. . . an eclectic mix of things I find beautiful, inspirational, important or just plain interesting . . .

29 August 2011

aren't these fun?

I would love to have a few of these around just for the fun of it.  The “Roo” seat is from manufacturer, Woodnotes.


28 August 2011

postcard from provence

I wish I were here! Doesn't this look cool and beautiful?



Road past the old mas
18cm x 15cm, oil on panel (approx 7"x6") 

To be auctioned over 24hrs.
Auction starts;
Sunday 28 August at 
20:00  GMT -00:00 
(16:00 EDT -04:00)
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27 August 2011

26 August 2011

friday wisdom


color forecast

Promostyl : Key Colours Winter 2011/12

A season under the sign of « revivals » of all kinds! Stubborn colours are injected into stimulating, creative and economic collections for brand new harmonies! Promostyl, international trend research and design agency, presents the key colours for Winter 2011/12.




STONE
A neutral, persistent shade – soft and all-purpose, like a pebble, a trench-coat or the famous raincoat by the renowned British ready-to-wear brand. The synthesis of grey, beige, of greige and nude tints – not too light, not too dark. The embodiment of unisex, uniform, universal…



POMEGRANATE
An ambivalent color: suave and precious, edible and cosmetic, halfway between pink and red. Rich and sensual contrasts with rugged, velvety, matte, moist and varnished textures.



BRASS & CO
The exact opposite of show-off gold: a muted trend with tarnished bronze and brass tints. Worn and oxidized treasures and neo-camouflage patterns with speckled moths and night-flies.



MISTS
Five veiled colors in half-tones. A quiet monochrome of discreet colors and felted, marled textures. Gentle passages from cold to warm, from crystal to felt and cashmere, from nostalgia to modernity…


MANY-COLORED
A merry-go-round of winter brights: dense, matte and warm. Coloring and recycling of bits of yarn and scraps of paper to dress up and to play. Disorderly associations of the blue-yellow-red trio – with a preference for Malachite blue, Saffron yellow and Crimson pink.

Visit Promostyl website to find out about exclusive fashion information: http://www.promostyl.com/


22 August 2011

new blog alert


Rue photographer Teri Lyn Fisher and food stylist Jenny Park have launched spoon fork bacon, a beautiful (and sassy!) new blog. For stunning photography, elegant styling, and drool-tastic recipes check it out.

19 August 2011

friday wisdom


casa olivi

Casa Olivi is an XVIIIth century farm in the Marches, a gorgeous region in Italy commonly referred to as the "other Tuscany". The farm has been renovated and remodeled using stone and wood and sparingly furnished and available for rent at the small price of 4.200 € - 8.400 € per week depending on the season. That's $6,000 to $12,000. It does sleep 11. One can always dream!

More about this beauty here.


{Photos Gaelle Le Boulicaut}






via French By Design

18 August 2011

if your house was burning, what would you take with you?

The latest addition to the retailer Anthropologie's "Anthropogist" series is entitled "The Burning House". In it photographer Foster Huntington documents what one would save in the face of a fire. It's effect on the 23-year-old has been significant. Says Huntington, "Seeing other people's photos and hearing stories of those who have actually lost everything has forced me to reevaluate and condense." As he learned the definition of the word "irreplaceable" is quite subjective, and shifts considerably with age.

This got my attention because we live in a high-fire danger area. We're supposed to be ready at a moment's notice to be able to evacuate, have everything packed and ready to go by the door. Of course we're not ready. After living here for three years, it's high-time we get serious!

Here's a few of the "collections".

The author's

Baby Boomer: Denise Fike, age 58

Gen X: Melia Marden & Frank Sisiti Jr, age 30s

iGeneration: Antonio Blanchett, age 10

Millennial: Eric Elliott, age 22

17 August 2011

pot calling the kettle black

Abercrombie & Fitch wants clothes off Jersey Shore
This is beyond stupid  . . . .

NEW YORK | Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:06pm EDT
(Reuters) - Teen clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co has offered money to get away from what it sees as an undesirable Situation.

The preppy retailer has offered to pay cast members from MTV's popular show "Jersey Shore" to stop wearing its clothes, it said in a news release late Tuesday.

The company is "deeply concerned" that Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino "could cause significant damage" to the brand's "aspirational nature."

"Jersey Shore" features a cast of twenty-something Italian Americans partying, tanning and complaining about their jobs at a beach-front T-shirt stand.

The offer could be considered an abrupt about-face for a company that previously sold T-shirts emblazoned with the wording "The Fitchuation."



I think both they're images are pretty repulsive.

I've never watched "Jersey Shore" and even though I've purchased from Abercrombie, I refuse to use their bags with naked white men on them.

Read more here.


Follow-up: Abercrombie Wants Off ‘Jersey Shore’ (Wink-Wink),  Click here.

16 August 2011

an inconvenient truth - revisited

I've recently had the pleasure of seeing "An Inconvenient Truth" again, Al Gore's documentary on the climate crisis that won an Academy Award in 2006. It's part of Current TV's series on "50 Documentaries To See Before You Die."

It's amazing how the same issues are with us six years forward. What the documentary has to say is still highly relevant. Climate change is still a political football with people in influentiual places still denying it exists.

But I think the most compelling thought that comes to mind when I watch Al Gore is how much different this country, in fact this world would be if he'd been allowed to become president.

There most certainly would have been no Iraq war and possibly no financial crisis. Beyond that is conjecture. But I know things would have been radically different, for the better.

He introduces himself saying he "used to be known as the next president of the United States". As the crowd laughs, he says that isn't something to joke about. I agree!

Some of the other documentaries they're broadcasting in their entirity as part of this series are: Roger & Me, One Day in September, Biggie & Tupac and Hoop Dreams. And possibly more. And while you at it, check out the rest of Current TV's listings. Not only is it the new home of Keith Olbermann's "Countdown". But it's also the home of some excellent original documentaries.

You can still catch a few repeat broadcasts on Current TV of "An Inconvenient Truth". If you don't get Current TV, you can get a copy of the documentary on Amazon or at your local retailer. Or rent it at Netflix.

10 August 2011

postcard from provence

Road near Gigondas
28cm x 13cm, oil on panel (approx 11"x5") 

To be auctioned over 24hrs.
Auction starts;
Thursday 11 August at 
20:00  GMT -00:00 
(16:00 EST -05:00)
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07 August 2011