I'm so smitten by Pansy Lane's apartment set on flickr. I love the way she's grouped the photos over the couch. And the mismatched chairs around the dining room table warm my magpie heart. And the wallpaper! Where was this apartment when I was looking???
I always look forward to camellia season. But this year, it surprised me. I was so busy with work, I almost missed the early blooms. One afternoon, I looked out my bedroom window and saw the saucer-sized flowers--pinks, reds and white. 
Blogger Oh Joy! reminds me, with her weekend post, of the charms of Australian illustrator Kat Macleod, who mixes up her drawings with bright watercolors and bits of interesting fabric, touched with sequins, ribbon, string and other found goodies. It's assemblage for the chic set, and I simply can't resist it. I first learned about Macleod's designs while browsing in one of my local bookstores. There, on the shelf, was a pink cocktail book, "The Cocktail: 200 Fabulous Drinks." Not only were the recipes a delight (an entire section on Champagne cocktails!), the illustrations made it clear: This was not your dad's bar guide. It was, to borrow the name of one of the drinks, a Flirtini. (Of course, I had to buy the book and the followup cocktail deck).....
.....Besides the cocktail book, Macleod has a full portfolio, with works appearing in magazines around the globe. (The umbrella illustration appeared in Real Style. Afterall, those editors know real style when they see it. ) A number of her illustrations are also available for viewing on the website, Jacky Winter group. And, according to Oh Joy!, Ms. Macleod has a new book, called "Like I Give a Frock", coming out in the spring. Like her art, her bio on the Winter site includes colorful details. "She finds fashion, textiles, new art supplies and old books inspiring." Plus: "She enjoys hot chips, talking on the phone and her cat." In other words, she's someone you could meet for a Yacht Club Punch, garnished with a maraschino cherry. Cheers! 
I'm spending the evening catching up on my blog reading. Design*Sponge this week did an interesting story on one of my favorite flowers, ranunculus. (Ok, I can't really pronounce it.) Lovely, all the same....
I'm probably one of the few people who prefers the beach during a rainstorm. The colors are so moody: The ocean blends with the clouds and the air is fresh. I love these photos of Malibu, posted on flickr by imagebysp, a seascape photographer extraordinaire. The last picture is fantastic: the surf forms the median between air and sea. Gorgeous.
Dear All, I'm giving away one of my Brad Pitt "Make It Right" newsboy caps! I purchased it in New Orleans during the launch of Pitt's effort to rebuild the lower 9th ward. (See Pitt, above, wearing his version of the hat.) To win, simply leave a comment on this post OR sign-up as one of my blog followers! (See sign-up link on the right. Please join the lovely Urban Muse--my first follower--in tracking my latest posts!) The winner will be announced here on Monday evening! xoxxo
It's so nice to be home on a rainy Saturday morning with all my favorite things (and people and animals.) It's supposed to rain for days, one of the hallmarks of winter in Los Angeles. I love it. I have a stack of books, new magazines (what do you think of that New Yorker cover?) and a new recipe book. Bliss.
I'm back in LA after a long flight from Washington! The plane was packed with inaugural revelers, toting souvenirs and donning Obama buttons. (I brought my daughter an Obama jack-in-the box.) I thought a lot about our previous presidents this week, especially JFK. I wish he and his brother Bobby could have lived to see this day. How far we've come.....
I spent the day walking through the streets of DC, from the Jefferson Memorial up through Chinatown and over to my little rented apartment on 12th Street, where I've been filing my blog from the basement laundry room. (It's the only place in the building where I can get on the Internet. ) I wanted to share with you this picture taken by RonnieR. (His DC set on flickr is wonderful.) Tomorrow I'm heading home to LA, where (alas) marble buildings and row houses are in short supply. I'm looking forward to thawing out my toes.
