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

something pretty for your monday

Hello darlings!
I have to say I love this blog
and am so excited to be guest posting here.
Thank you Tina!

My name is Vanessa (Joie) and I have my own little blog
over at Pois Rouge.
A few of my favorite things are:
My friends, my faith, my puppy, eucalyptus trees, twinkle lights and Polaroids.
I love Polaroids.

With that in mind I thought I'd share some dreamy, beachy polaroids taken by Rebecca Pepperell. I spotted them over at Feaverish Photography and fell in love. I think you will probably fall in love too.









(all photos are by Rebecca Pepperell and were used with her permission. Thank you Rebecca!)

xoxo Vanessa Joie