Friday

Wishing everyone a very lovely weekend!  xoxo

(Photo by Rodney Smith via Absolutely Beautiful Things.)

What's In Your Filofax?

I realize this is probably complete decadence, but I've managed to collect seven Filofaxes over the years. I've tried -- lots of times -- to give them up for Palm Pilots and other electronic devices, but I can't.  I use my pink Filofax as an address book, my red one for recipes, and so on. 

My green one is my portable inspiration file.  The contents:  

An old NYT magazine Domains profile of the late John Mortimer (He drank Champagne every morning for breakfast, which I applaud); Lists of interesting words; Various magazine photos; A picture of my husband (featured in an LA Times ad long ago); An Equinox schedule; Megan Stack's fantastic LA Times profile of Vivian Edde; A gorgeous snippet from Michael Cunningham's book, "The Hours;" Harry Eyres' "Autumn and Essences" column from the FT; And finally, a picture of JLo (and butt) to inspire me to go to the gym. (I hate the gym.)

What's in your Filofax?

Rain, at last

It's raining in Los Angeles, which makes me very happy.  My plans for the evening are very basic. The highlights:  Make dinner (something from Trader Joes), take a long bubble bath in my clawfoot tub and curl up with a book. I just started Ian McEwan's "On Chesil Beach." I usually wait until books come out in paperback because it's easier to write in the margins and underline beautiful passages. (Plus I always feel bad about marking up hardbacks.)  I thought "Atonement" was brilliant, so I'm interested to see how this new one compares!

(Photo by +Lyn)

Coffee Break

Good morning, Loves. I'm rushing this morning to finish my column for tomorrow's paper. But I wanted to share with you another amazing photo by Petrina Tinslay. I find her photographs beautiful and comforting. By the way, I'm working on a very special post for you for later today!  xoxo

Evening Toast

It's evening and I finally have a chance to relax. I've been continuing to flip through the Toast catalogues online. I spotted this picture. I love this look: Boots with black tights and a print skirt. I also love how the scarf matches the jacket. What do you think?

Tea (and Toast) Break

I adore these images from Toast, the UK version of Anthropologie. (The catalogues are awe inspiring -- and online.)  The robe in the top photo is gorgeous and I love the staircase... And now I'm off for my real tea break. 

Love Note, Found

Thank you...

....to everyone who visited my little corner of the Internet today. (And thank you to LA Observed for the mention!) The Pulitzer Prize winning critic Jonathan Gold proclaimed my blog "girly."  A compliment, indeed! Stop by again....t.

(photo credit: Corrie Bond.)

Not Your Mother's Embroidery

These embroidered handkerchiefs by illustrator Kate O'Connor made me laugh. I especially like the Facebook one. I was recently rejected on Facebook by someone who went on to friend my husband. Ha! O well. 

Charms...

..for a happy life, as captured through the lens of the amazing Sydney-born photographer Petrina Tinslay.....

1. A green velvet curtain with silk embroidery and trim, with little tassels. A flea market painting of pink roses.

2. White linens, preferably vintage. Red shoes, with rosettes.  A white organza dress.

3. Travel books, to faraway places.

4. Moroccan slippers and a blue silk cushion from India. 

5. Little cakes with sugar frosting. And raspberries. 

Which do you like the best?

(PS--there are even more beautiful things on Petrina's webpage.)

Summer Dreaming

I've officially been blogging for a little more than a month now. When I started, I had no idea that the most incredible joy of all would be meeting people from around the globe.  Today, while escaping the Super Bowl frenzy, I spent the late afternoon on an amazing blog, Rummage, authored by Nanette Louchart-Fletcher in Canberra, Australia. It's summer there and Nanette's photos (above) bring to life the season in vivid detail:  Tomatoes from her garden, handmade cotton dresses, a jar filled with nasturtium. On her companion gardening blog, acacia_et_coquelicot, she talks about the trials of growing a pincushion plant. "I did everything bar of sending it off for a spot of psychoanalysis," she writes. Witty girl!

Rummage and acacia_et _coquelicot are more delicious than a double scoop of Daiquiri Ice on a sugar cone.

For a bonus, visit Nanette's flickr site.  The Corners set made me swoon. 

Summer love!

Weekend

The weather in Southern California has been beautiful this weekend...I think the beach would be the perfect escape from the Super Bowl!

(Photo credit: Rodney Smith.)

Maira Kalman

Makes me happy to see Maira Kalman's new blog post (on the inauguration) for the New York Times...(And I adore the pink chair).

Flickr Tree(s)

From a gorgeous post this Saturday morning on the flickr blog.  (I'm loving images of bare trees at the moment!)

(Photo credits: Natureluv and Biancavanderwerf)

A Prize

Awarded by the Denver Post in 1925! And now, a charm for getting through hard times.

(Photo: Twig & Thistle.)

What's Your Inspiration?

When I was little, I would build inspiration boards on whatever piece of cork I could find.  They became the mediums of self expression and cheer, packed with cards, scraps of wrapping paper, fabric, dried flowers, love notes.  I still have an inspiration board (It's almost as big as the kitchen table now). I will try to get good photos of it for an upcoming post. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some other boards I spotted around the Internet this week. Which image do you like the best? (The full moon on d.Sharp's board especially caught my eye.) xoxo

1. Bandelle Blog

2. Coach (via Bandelle)

3. d.Sharp Journal

The Evening Sky

I have enjoyed the past few days watching the moon and Venus make their transit across the winter sky.  This evening, beyond the trees, the waxing moon was shaped like delicate bowl, to toss wishes in. 

(Photo credit: megseggs)

I Love....

Goodies:

1. Vintage Bird Correspondence Cards

Lindsey Ryan Design

2. Custom Made Silhouette Pendants

Lucky Me Beads

3. Decorated Moleskine Notebooks

Shoofly

As found on my quick Etsy break! xoxo

Life Through A Viewfinder

I'm awed and inspired by Pennsylvania artist Valorie Cox's photos, meticulously taken though the bubble-top glass viewfinders of vintage cameras. (Usually Rediflexes).  She has a number of prints for sale on Etsy at the moment and she also has a blog, where she generously shares her process for creating these little works of art.  Unexpected and beautiful.

Mother & Daughter, Milano

There are so many interesting images on The Sartorialist, but this one really struck me. How beautiful is this mother and daughter? Picture taken in Italy, of course.