jamaica byles

Artist: Tracy Hambley

2012-02-17T03:17:00.000-05:00

I was fortunate to come across Tracy Hambley's beautifully made shadow boxes up close and personal at a recent ( as in last fall) art fair here in Greenwich. I've always admired her attention to detail and the beautiful ephemera used in her works and she now has a range of greeting cards which these nostalgic pieces lend themselves very well to.I must say her work, although beautiful here, is so much more impressive in person. Have a safe and relaxing weekend....see you all Monday!

Designinspiration

2012-02-16T03:57:00.000-05:00

I've always been a huge fan of illustration, design and typography- so I was really delighted to come across Designinspiration, a very well curated site a lot like fffound but offering categorization, making it easy to get lost in a large grouping of some great illustrations.Here are just a few of my favorites.

Linn Olofsdotter

2012-02-15T05:36:00.000-05:00

Here's another artist I love for her vibrant colors and fantastic details.I'm sure many of you have seen her work in the blogosphere.Linn Olofsdotter is well known for good reason. Love the heart valentine card.....

Artist: Sandra Vandergeest

2012-02-14T03:47:00.000-05:00

I love the mixed media artwork of artist Sandra Vandergreest, who started her artistic life as a scrapbooker. Her ability at melding vibrant watercolor and magazine cut outs to create stunningly cohesive collages is truly amazing.I'm very jealous of her talent. Visit her flickr site or blog for more.

Romantic Notions

2012-02-13T02:56:00.000-05:00

Romance is in the air...tomorrow is Valentines, a day my husband and I intermittently celebrate.I say intermittent because, as my hubby likes to say, everyday is Valentines for us. After nearly 20 years, that's a really sweet notion.He is a real romantic-even more so than I. The following images are all from a lovely tumblr blog I've been following- Little Pink Bag, who does a beautiful job curating romance and lots of pink (my favorite).

Photographer Kristian Krogh

2012-02-10T05:52:00.000-05:00

Here are some lovely images by Kristian Septimius Krogh to kick start your Friday......have a great weekend everyone! See you back here Monday.

Vintage Textile

2012-02-09T04:33:00.000-05:00

I'm in the process of doing some design for for my own line that is oh so slowly coming together (!). I always find loads of inspiration in beautifully handmade vintage clothing such as ones featured here with wonderful embellishments and trim.....Images from Vintage Textile.

Artist: Kelly Reemtsen

2012-02-08T04:23:00.000-05:00

These paintings by artist Kelly Reemtsen are so refreshingly fresh...love the juxtaposition of oh so proper retro attire with unusual accoutrements. Water hose as accessory? clever. Makes me wonder what she's up to with the chain saw though....

Photography: Tec Petaja

2012-02-07T03:11:00.001-05:00

Oh my.Loving these photos by Tec Petaja who shoots not only weddings but also interiors and commercial products. Purty....

Fancy Type

2012-02-06T04:38:00.000-05:00

I love artistic type - preferably scripted with lots of flourishes and a hand drawn feel. Below are some newly discovered ( for me) type that are just lovely.And truly inspirational.

1.Ugur Islim 2.and 3. Marcos Calamato 4. Manuel Olmo-Rodriguez 5. Lauren Hom 6. One Horse Town Illustration Studio 6. Rodrigo Burdman 7.Sasha Prood 8. MaricorMaricar 9. Teagan White 10. Damian Denis 11. and 12. Cory Say 13. Jessica Hirsche 14. Alejandro lo Celsos 15. Iza and Paulo W 16. Maximiliano Sprovieto

Loft Living

2012-02-03T04:45:00.000-05:00

I've always wanted to live in a loft. In fact hubby and I entertained the idea when we first moved to the tristate area- the thought of living in SoHo or Tribeca was soo appealing.But then reality set in and the serious lack of green space ( we have 3 dogs) and the ability to easily travel to surrounding airports ( my husband travels for business) were seen as insurmountable obstacles.I still dream of it though.Often..... Images from Loftenberg.

Great weekend everybody!

English Country

2012-02-02T03:54:00.000-05:00

Lovely English country rooms here from House to Home- bright serene and quintessentially English. I could easily have themed this "how to combine beautiful mismatched patterns effortlessly", as the English do so well. Many of these images remind me of spring- a recurring theme for the next few posts, apparently.

Designer: Luisa Beccaria

2012-02-01T04:21:00.002-05:00

I never thought fruit or fresh flowers could look so good on clothing but these outfits by designer Luisa Beccaria scream spring.... Love the lacey details and those adorable platform shoes.

A Happy Home

2012-01-31T03:53:00.001-05:00

I would love to visit the home featured here. I'm unable to decipher the narrative but it's obviously scandinavian with beautiful light filled rooms and a very relaxed approach to decorating. This just looks like a very happy place to live.Images courtesy of Lilla Majken's lovely blog.

Dori Csengari

2012-01-30T04:46:00.000-05:00

These beautiful jewelry pieces by designer Dori Csengari are really more works of art worthy of framing for display, IMHO. Love the colors and the hand woven quality. Visit her sight here.

Sexy Backs

2012-01-27T06:30:00.001-05:00

I love sexy, toned backs....a part of my anatomy that is under construction, so to speak.But once ready for unveiling, these are some of the looks I would favor if only for the lack of said wardrobe. No end of motivation here! Click* for source. Happy weekend all.....

Delightful Spaces

2012-01-26T04:18:00.002-05:00

Despite the festive mood of some of these images (yes, I know Christmas is well behind us) I couldn't resist sharing some pretty interiors found on Journal de la Maison. Lots of brocante and pretty chandeliers- so very french , although a couple of these spaces are scandinavian. I'm sure you can tell which ones..... Love the bedroom with clothes strewn on the bed and chair.Unlovely-no. Shabby lived in-yes.

Chanel Backstage

2012-01-25T04:24:00.000-05:00

I've always been a big fan of Chanel- Karl Lagerfield is a genius, IMHO. Love peeking backstage before one of his acclaimed shows......Images from Fashion Telegraph

Affari- Garden Inspired Goodies

2012-01-24T02:57:00.000-05:00

It's cold and raining here as I type this post (pitter patter). And I'm sitting on the coach with a warm buckwheat neck wrap ( sore neck from pilates class yesterday) surrounded by my newfs. Oh, and hubby in the background swearing at the scanner that refuses to work......what more could I ask for? To spare you further details from my very mundane life here are some lovely photos from a swedish home decor company that specializes in garden inspired accents called Affari. How much longer til Spring??

Bedecked and Ornamented

2012-01-23T04:44:00.000-05:00

I don't have much occasion to wear garments with sequins, rhinestones, beads and gold trim but that doesn't mean I don't spend an inordinate amount of time ogling them. Yup- definitely not daily wear, but eye candy is necessary sustenance for the soul.So dream away....click * for image source. Most ( if not all) are from tumblr blogs so regretfully original sources often lost in shuffle-one of my pet peeves.

French Country Interiors

2012-01-20T04:07:00.000-05:00

Leaving you all with some delightful french country images as we head into a blustery, cold and potentially snowy ( at least here in Connecticut) weekend. I love how relaxed and so very cozy these interiors are. Images from Champagne-Decoration.

Shabby Chic- Original and True

2012-01-19T04:08:00.001-05:00

I've always loved Rachel Ashwell and her shabby, flouncy style and was saddened to see her store in our town close a couple years ago.So now I willingly schlep into Soho whenever I need a dose of shab. Many have tried to imitate her style but there is only one true original....Images from her store and her blog.

Pip Studio

2012-01-18T03:54:00.005-05:00

It's dark and gloomy here.....and cold. These eye popping wallpapers and accessories by dutch company Pip Studio is guaranteed to brighten your day and wake your eyeballs......

Flower Girls Couture

2012-01-17T04:07:00.000-05:00

I don't think I was ever a flower girl- at least not that I can remember.But I would have jumped at the chance to wear one of these pretty confections.Images from Elizabeth St. John

Stylist: Lucyina Moodie

2012-01-16T04:15:00.000-05:00

Ugh....it is bitterly cold here in New England.Not a snow flake in sight to at least make it pretty.Thank goodness for my electric mattress heater- essential in this drafty old house. To get the week off on a bright and cheery note, here are some lovely images styled by Lucyina Moodie. The last couple are from the Chelsea Flower Show- something I hope to see someday....

Dolce et Gabbana

2012-01-14T00:43:00.000-05:00

Bear with me.This is a long post..But when I stumbled on this gossamery confection of a collection by Dolce et Gabbana for S/S 2011 I just couldn't hold back.And then they had the nerve to combine all that lacey goodness with sequins and baubles.I mean, just how much pretty can one girl take?

Images by Vogue.

Artist: Andrea Joseph

2012-01-13T06:38:00.000-05:00

Here's an impressive artist to start your Friday (TGIF) off on the right foot.Andrea Joseph renders these beautiful illustrations solely with, are you ready?- the lowly ball point pen.I love the subtle stippled texture her pen work gives.And the details......astounding.Visit her blog here and her flickr site here.

Anna Williams Photography

2012-01-11T04:12:00.000-05:00

Beautiful still life and interior photos here by Anna Williams, whose intuitive use of complimentary color and crisp, well lit quality are bang on.

Lovely Neutrals

2012-01-10T03:57:00.000-05:00

While some of the rooms here are verging on being a tad too formal for my tastes, I love the soothing neutral color palette and the natural textural touches. Images courtesy of Pierce Designs.

Emilio Pucci S/S RTW 2012

2012-01-09T04:17:00.000-05:00

I've always been very detail oriented in my love of aesthetics and design.Love these close-ups of the rich fabric and embellishments used in Emilio Pucci's S/S RTW 2012 collection .The devil really is in the details, as they say.Images from Vogue UK.

McQueen Up Close and Personal

2012-01-07T07:25:00.001-05:00

I would say that Sarah Burton, the creative tour de force behind Alexander McQueen's label since his death, is doing an absolutely bang up job.I just love the exquisite detail seen in this collection for S/S 2012. Dee.Vine...... Images from Vogue UK.

Pale Beauty

2012-01-06T19:25:00.000-05:00

Like many readers out there I have been addicted as of late to Pinterest, an online site that allows you to create boards for "pinning", well, anything of interest.These images are from the pinterest board of MaisonBlanches, a tumblr blog with a wonderful eye for pale.Unfortunately I was unable to hunt down original sources (bummer) but these are just too pretty not to post. If anyone out there knows who the original creators are do tell......

Chanel Pre-Fall 2012

2012-01-04T20:06:00.000-05:00

I've always been a huge fan of Indian fashion and embroidery so when I saw the Pre-Fall collection from Chanel I was immediately smitten.Love the Indian inspired gold trim and jewelry. Images from Vogue.

Stylist: Lo Bjurulf

2012-01-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

The weather here in Connecticut is a little overcast and cold, cold, cold. Just got back from the gym and feeling energized.In that vein here's some lovely, inventive styling by Lo Bjurulf. I'm glad this is a written blog- not sure I could do that last name justice.