Friday, July 10, 2009

The Weekend

diana

I really want to dig out my Diana camera this weekend...

diana

And take pictures of things simple and lovely

diana

Like a table set for Saturday lunch.

---

Thank you again for all your kind comments about my dad. He's home and doing ok at the moment. (Deep sigh of relief!)

What are you doing this weekend?


PS: These wonderful photos, above, are by Stephen Norman.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Calm

danske
This photo is so soothing to look at, I think.
Warmth and cool at once.
--
Thank you for your amazing comments.
Thank you for your kindness.


Photo by Danske

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Fog

Ryan McGinley, Kate Moss, W

There's something I haven't told you, not in awhile anyway. My father is still very sick. Everyday, it seems, brings a new setback. I know this is part of life, but it doesn't make the fact that we're losing him any easier. I'm exhausted in a way that no amount of sleep can fix. This blog and the comments from the lovely people who read it keep me going...I just wanted you to know. Thank you.



Photo credit: Ryan McGinley, Kate Moss, W Magazine.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Who Knew...

Obama in Los Angeles, 2006


I was cleaning out a box over the weekend and found an old camera memory card from 2 1/2 years ago, when Obama came to town to sign his book, Audacity of Hope. He stopped in Encino for a private reception. It was all so relaxed. No guards. No fuss.

There was speculation that he was going to run for president, but no one knew for sure. He stood on the steps of the back porch, addressing a crowd of about 50 people. Afterward, he milled around the living room. He signed books with a black Sharpie (left handed). He smiled. Made everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room. (He has this way of grabbing people by the arm, from the elbow...)

I took nearly 40 pictures with a little digital camera that I didn't know how to work. Almost everyone left before Obama did. Afterward I went home, took the memory card out of the camera and dropped it into a box which I immediately misplaced, until now.

I've often looked back on that evening in October 2006. I should have taken a better camera, or maybe I should have brought along a friend who knew how to focus a lens. I should have talked to him longer. I should have remembered to get my book signed.

But who knew...


PS: My newly found photos are over here.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Kings Road

Kings Road

1920s apartments and hair salons with catchy names
define the neighborhood around Kings Road in Los Angeles...
Taboo

But my favorite spot of all is this place...

Kings Road newsstand

The Kings Newsstand, packed with foreign magazines. I love buying copies of French Vogue and the World of Interiors before heading next door to the coffee house, where they make lattes decorated with hearts...



Bliss.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A Domino Favorite: Small Space Color

Domino: Small Space Color

I just want to say that I'm completely in love with this hot pink kitchen...

domino

Although this green dining room is nice too...

Domino: color

I'm continuing my new Sunday tradition of posting old Domino articles. I hope you like this one. It appeared in the April 2006 issue. Domino says: "Brighter rooms, happier you." Do you think that's true? Maybe I have too many white walls in the house!

(Here's the link to my previous Sunday Domino posts. And click the photos above to view them large on my Flickr page.)

A couple other things:

Congratulations Liss at Daydream Lily for being named a Blogger.com "Blog of Note"! Men from all over the world have been proposing to Liss in the wake of the honor. She has wisely started screening her messages.

And thank you Veronique at Here in Malibu for telling me about TweetDeck. Although I'm now living on Twitter, I have a long way to go before I catch up with Ashton Kutcher! (Please follow me before #moonfruit crashes Twitter.)

Have a great Monday everyone!

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Station Wagon Living

Station Wagon

I was at one of my favorite thrift stores
and discovered this campy little book from 1957...

station wagon

It was compiled by Ford Motors at a time when car camping had become
"a major social phenomenon of the post-war era."

station wagon

They offered helpful illustrations for packing...

Station Wagon

And a photos of gadgets and equipment, like the Camp-N-Wagon. (A traveling kitchen with a formica counter, drawers, water tank, faucet and two-burner stove.)

station wagon

If Ford Motors were still making stations wagons like this, I don't think they would need a federal bailout. These cars are pure vintage genius. Just add bio-fuel....

station wagon

And you're ready to go...

Friday, July 3, 2009

Beach Polaroids

paradise cove

When we arrived at Paradise Cove north of Malibu this morning, it was still foggy and cool.

paradise cove

By noon the sun had broken through and the 4th of July weekend was officially underway.

paradise cove

We lounged around, watching the sea and the clouds.

paradise cove

I read French Glamour and started a new book, Hot House Flower and
the 9 Plants of Desire.
My friend Veronique, who lives nearby, stopped by to say hello...

paradise cove

We ordered french fries, chicken wings and fish tacos from
the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. Everything was lovely, until...

paradise cove

Throngs of people descended upon our little beach. So we came home. Sunburned and happy, with Polaroids covered with sand and french fry grease.

Happy Weekend!!

xoxo

PS: These Polaroids were taken with my 180 Land Camera.

Beach Bound!

palm trees
We're getting ready to head to the beach for the day! I'm looking forward to reading a book under my giant beach umbrella. We're going to have a little picnic in Malibu and hopefully we'll be able to see my friend Veronique!

I'm taking two Polaroid cameras, so (fingers crossed!) I'll have nice pictures to show you later!! xoxo

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Different Styles of Inspiration

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Check out these two inspiration walls...

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One is a fabulous overlapping collage of color. The other is an exhibit of order and creativity. Which one do you like the best?


UPDATE! This comment by Brian Miller made me laugh out loud!!
He said: "wow. mine would be the one that looks like it was put up with a shotgun. a little here there and everywhere. some interesting things too when you magnify these pics."



Souces: Top collage first appeared on the beautiful Decor 8 blog and the bottom collage is from the lovely Oh. Hello Friend.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Some favorite images...

Vogue Living

From old magazines.

British House & Garden

I love the contrast of light and color...Beads, glass and ribbon...

British House & Garden

An inspiration wall of flowers...

British House & Garden

And a cobalt blue chandelier...

Elle

So lovely to look at. A visual respite.

The photos are from a variety of sources: Vogue Living May/June 08,
British House & Garden June 2001, and Elle (I think!)

Happy Wednesday everyone. One more day until the long holiday weekend!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Summering

toast

This is really where I want to be...

toast

Drifting along on a boat. It can be anywhere. Even in someone's backyard swimming pool...

toast

Or maybe strolling along with my little parasol, trying not to blind the tourists with my incredibly pale legs...

toast
Or standing on the pier at dusk, watching the lights of the city flicker on...

I'm so restless for a proper summer vacation. I want to be off somewhere. Sigh.

For now, I have to be content with looking at these photos, above, from the Toast catalogue website. (They stopped sending me the catalogue in the mail, I guess because I didn't order anything.)

I can't wait until August, when we finally head out to the beach and then the mountains...

Monday, June 29, 2009

Bisbee, Arizona

Kate Spade

I was so excited when this Kate Spade ad campaign debuted
a couple years ago...

Kate Spade

I spent six years in Arizona before heading to California...

Kate Spade

And one of my friends grew up in the small town of Bisbee. (And I'm certain she would find the gold jacket and big blue flower quite smart!)

I can't wait to see what the new Kate Spade ads look like this fall. (I usually tear them out of Vogue and stash them in a folder.) Have you seen Kate Spade's Behind the Curtain website? It's one of my favorites!

I hope you have a lovely Monday! What do you have planned this week?

Sunday, June 28, 2009

A Domino Favorite: Black and White

domino favorite: black white and cool all over

I love this photo of black and white treasures displayed against a dark gray wall. (Check out the little black dress and white sweater, upper right!)

A Domino Favorite: Black and White

This series of photos appeared in the December 2005 issue of Domino magazine as part of an article, "Black and White and Cool All Over"...

A Domino Favorite: Black and White and cool all over

I especially love the black chandelier....

Domino Magazine: Black and White

And the curtain tied back with a black grosgrain ribbon. (Also cute shoes and cat!)

Hope you had a lovely weekend.


Credits: photos by Mikkel Vang, styling by Christine Rudolph.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Happy Weekend!

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Hope you have a lovely weekend. I'm getting my hair done and then I'm going to an afternoon garden party! I've also resolved to listen to the stereo and avoid obsessive viewing of CNN. (I was watching until 1 am last night, fixated on every detail of Michael Jackson's death. Poor man.)




Photo credits: Macabre Photographer, All Roads, Vimeo

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Gris-Bleu

instants_parisiens2

One of my favorite French blogs, Gris-Bleu, has a new address: Gris-Bleu.Fr

instants_parisiens

The blog is an amazing showcase for the photography and illustrations of the very talented Philippe.

parisgrille

I'm especially in love with these gorgeous photos from the Tuileries. Ah, summertime in Paris. Wish I were there...

Daria

daria

Ms. Werbowy. So very chic.