Sofia Coppola's Paris

Oh. So fantastic. Who wants to go? We'll stay with my friend Elaine and eat macrons all day. And sip hot chocolate...

(photos from the New York Times.)

xo

First Comes Love

Good Friday morning, Kids. Yes, your Uncle is back with coffee in hand and a soft smile on my morning face. The sun is shining on the yellowing leaves outside my window. A long weekend that, for once, I will get to enjoy in its entirety. What about you? Any Labor Day Weekend plans? Well, whatever you're doing I thought I'd help you ease into things.

I posted about this piece of Josh Goleman's amazing work up above almost two years ago now. I've watched it a million times and it never ceases to bring on a wave of heart warmth. Every. Single. Time. So, I thought, why not bring it out of the archives lest any of you haven't seen it. Watch it. You won't regret it.

And you certainly couldn't ask for a better way to start a weekend... or a life together.

(If you wish, you can see photos here.)

A Right Anglo

One can hardly take in the title of The English Muse without tapping into one's inherent Anglophile nature. Are you with me? Okay, your Uncle Beefy typically refers to himself as a "Franglophile" given his love of things both French and English but for the moment I shall focus, Kids.

I love to armchair travel on a constant basis... pretending to flit about from shop to virtual shop admiring the wares, the merchandising, and the glorious accents used to offer me assistance while I try to muffle my desperate need to be seen as fashionably international. (This requires enormous mental fortitude and imagination when sitting at the 'puter in one's pajamas... just sayin'.)

One favorite virtual fix is Rockett St. George! They have a vast array of goodies of all sorts that will have you conjuring up images of us having tea at the window of my London flat as we secretly mock the American couple down below (in matching satin bowling jackets) inquiring about the possible whereabouts of an Applebee's. "Ha, ha, ha!" as we throw our heads back. "More Earl Grey? Or shall we have a Pimm's Cup? Nonsense! Let's grab a bite at Albion and then do some shopping!"

To blog perchance to dream.... sigh.

A few favorite things...

While Holly from Decor8 has been getting settled in her new home in Germany, she asked a number of us to contribute pictures of our favorite things...



I was very honored to be included in the series. I have a few more photos of my home over here.

also, please visit my guest post today on Automatism!

xo

The Missing Link

So how do, Kids? Did you miss me? Have you been loving ALL of my posts here at The English Muse? Whaaaat...?!?! You haven't the foggiest notion of that lunatic up there in the top hat? Posts? What posts? Believe me, it's likely the same reaction that Tina is having at this very moment due to my excessive tardiness in finally coming 'round to "The Muse". But here I am now in all my dysfunctional glory! (And, let's face it, you've had some pretty stellar guest bloggers guiding the way thus far. Wouldn't you say? Round of applause, I say!)

So, allow me to briefly introduce myself by telling you all that I write for the blog "The Bedlam of Beefy". I hail from the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. where I do the best I can to keep the damp conditions from mossing over my brain. (Not always successful I fear.) I am a jack-of-all-trades, if there ever was one, but have a personal affinity for printmaking and baking. Along with that would be strong leanings toward design, fashion, pop music (Yes, I admit it.), food, France, England (Of course!), and perhaps a dash of eccentric mental instability! What fun, eh?

I've laboured over what musings I should share with you. Where should I begin? And if I have talents aside from rambling it would most certainly lie in the "over-thinking" category. "Just start for heaven's sake!" Am I right? So here goes...

Kids, this blogsophere we sail through is a pretty amazing place. It's amazing the connections that are made far and wide. (Like Miss Tina & Uncle Beefy for example!) Often times we orbit around one another but every once in awhile the stars align and galaxies collide in the best possible way. This was the case a short time ago when some Texas bloggers and crew ventured north to Seattle and I had the distinct pleasure of meeting up with Sam of the phenomenal blog style/SWOON & the amazing Jason of Missing Q Press.

Jason just released his 2010 Calendar and it is one spectacular beauty to behold! He does some seriously fantastic work, my friends, and this would be one gorgeous way to start off the New Year. He did some business cards for me that I have the absolute hardest time giving away! I know, not the point, but certainly a testament to the man's talent for seductive letterpress. You can feel the spell coming over you already... can't you? Well, with an edition of only 150 you better get your mitts on 'em while you can! So go on now... skeedaddle! Get thee to Etsy!

It's September - things aren't as bright as they were

... which is a shame, but never mind. If your place is anything like here, it'll be bright again in a couple of weeks, before winter kicks in and gives us snow and quality television specials.
But if a place is worth visiting, it's worth visiting in September, right? So here are a few NYC yellows and reds from September last year. Or was it two years ago? Was it even September?

Jonas.

Los Angeles Fires

Time Lapse Test: Station Fire from Eric Spiegelman on Vimeo.


Check out this amazing Vimeo video of the Los Angeles wildfires. Over the weekend, we could see the flames some miles away on the San Gabriel Mountains from our frontyard. So far the blaze has consumed 105,000 acres -- and it's still burning out of control. (We're staying inside with the air conditioning on.)

Here's a photo from our vantage point:

This photo from LA City Hall was taken by my friend Terry Benichou:

100 bits of the world

Check out Sabrina Harrison's beautiful site for her Adventure Trips, Photography, Books, and Lust for Life!

xo Flux

Colour Lover: Melancholy Marie

Inspiration: Marie Antoinette (the movie).

color palette

Fashion Doyenne: Deborah Lloyd

Kate Spade's New York Creative Director Deborah Lloyd learned how to sew on her grandmother's Singer. By the time she was in grammar school, she was tailoring her own uniforms (skirts shorter than most) and sketching designs in her school notebooks.

It's no surprise that she has fantastic taste. Here are a few of the people and things that inspire her:

---

Jean Shrimpton and vintage jewels...



Colorful Kate Spade boxes and Faye Dunaway...



Central Park and a chic chapeau...



Kees van Dongen portraits and gilded owls...


And a number of other lovely things...read more about Deborah on Kate Spade's fantastic Behind the Curtain website.

xo