Oh dear!

I'm afraid I've been rather ill, and what with packing and traveling and whathaveyou there's been no posting or what:nots. I'm so sorry! I'm pleased to say I am much much better (although I have lost my voice - hmmm). This morning we arrived safely (with all our bags) in little old New Zealand and are here for several weeks - hooray! We will be traveling about, minding houses here and there, and spending time with family and friends. So in light of this I plan to take the next three weeks off from Elsa May. I hope you all have a wonderful wonderful Christmas and look forward to connecting with you all again in the new year. Take care and see you in a few weeks!

Image from Country Road.

A bit of stationery, with a few birds...

My stationery obsession continues, as does my love of delicate illustration and craft - clearly with a bit of a bird theme going on.

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Images from Nice Package, Cotton Bird Designs, The Book Cover Archive, kwilson, Amazon, and Emily Gravett.

A single man...

"He is seeing things for the first time because he knows he's seeing them for the last time," Mr Firth said. He mentioned a television interview where the British playwright Dennis Potter, dying of cancer, marveled at the flower he could see from his window. "It is the whitest, frothiests, blossomest blosson that there ever could be," Mr Potter siad then. "Things are both more trivial than they ever were, and more important than they ever were."

I love this excerpt from this NY Times interview with Colin Firth. It is so true. How often we go through life missing the most incredible, yet simple, moments and things that surround us. It's an excellent interview, and I quite like Colin Firth's take on communication problems....

"I like what happens as a result of communication problems because I don't think people communicate truly in any way," he said. "Communication is always imperfect. Language is an imperfect instrument - so is sex, so is shouting at each other - and although you get occasional moments when you feel truly connected, as George says in the film, they're pretty hard to keep hold of."

ps: It looks like a great film!

Image from The Film Stage.

A few busy days...

Where does the time go? I hope you had a lovely weekend - ours was rather relaxed which was nice. R arrived home on Sunday, and ever since it's been a flurry of present purchasing & wrapping, fudge & soup making, school craft day organising, Christmas socialising, & so on. The rest of the week is looking just as busy! My absolute favourite new thing is Saipua soaps! They are so beautifully packaged it seems a crime to open them, and as for the scents... I've taken to stuffing them in all my clothing drawers - and of course wrapping them up as little gifts. Love!

A Christmas plea...

With all the craziness and chaos at this time of year, it's easy to lose sight of what Christmas is really about. So my Christmas plea to all is to take time to make a difference in someone's life. Who in your community could you help, an elderly neighbour, the homeless guy who stands on the corner, a friend in need? Could you make a batch of soup, volunteer at a shelter, invite someone who is alone to share a meal? As Gandhi said "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Image from follow studio.

Weekly what:nots...

Here we are again, another week gone by. How was yours? Ours has been filled with this 'n that, jolly cold temperatures, and present wrapping. They say it might even snow this evening - fingers crossed. I've just heard that here it's meant to be 40 C this weekend. 40 C! I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that in ten days we will be enjoying a New Zealand summer. Perhaps that why this week's what:nots has a decidedly summery feel. I hope you have a lovely weekend - cold or warm wherever you are.

Adorable image of Natalie Portman for Lanvin (via A Cup of Jo). I have to confess to a major girl crush!

Sweet little succulent buttonholes from Quince.

Matt Pugh's very stylish salt 'n pepper owls.

Love this lamixx dress - big time!

A very fab blue vintage enamel and sterling silver necklace.

Robert Larson's artwork made using discarded Marlboro packets.

The perfect one-piece from J Crew.

Images from A cup of Jo, Quince, Matt Pugh, Lamixx, Supermarket, Eyebuzz Gallery, and J Crew.

Great gift guides...

There are so many wonderful gift guides this year, a real savior if you have any 'hard to buy for s' on your list. This morning I discovered (via here) sub-studio's fabulous coloured coded gift guides. I highly recommend you hop over and have a look. Among many great finds were these sweet little balloon speakers. To cute!

Image from Unica Home.

Please Portland snow...

I'd like to be able to look out the window and see what Reid Carrescia saw. I've been patiently waiting, and waiting, and... waiting for the past week. Please can we have just a little bit? Goodness knows it's been cold enough lately.

Video from Reid Carrescia.

Can I stay here? Please...

Please can I stay here? Fulvia Farolfi's house in the Hamptons looks like the perfect place to retreat to anytime of the year. Perhaps if I asked nicely I could stay....?

Image from the Selby.

Queen of the Quills!

Have you seen the lovely calligraphy from the truly fabulous Queen Quills (aka Emily)? Emily's beautiful calligraphy has graced many a fine sheet of cartridge and more, and now graces the header of Elsa May! Hop on over to Queen Quills where you can see examples of the wonder this woman wields with a pen.

Emily, thank you ever so much - it was such a delight to meet you and I am over the moon delighted with my new header :)

Images from Queen Quills.

Weekly what:nots...

Another week and a weekend have drawn to a close. It's a bit hard to believe we are so close to the end of the year! With R away, all manner of bits and bobs, the lead up to Christmas and our mini-break things have been pretty darn busy of late. So without further ado here's this weeks (rather late) what:nots.

One very stylish lighter - perfect for candles and wintery log fires.

Lovely book covers from here.

A great black 'n white image from Amicia per Diesel.

Mari Andrews' delicate sculpture.

These guys are waaay too cool for words!

How cute is this little kitten!

"Time to forget time" from here.

Images from A plus R store, Kate Forrester, Fashion Copious, Mari Andrews, ethanollie, The Selby, and Collette.

A busy few days...

Things have been a tad busy this week - with a bit of quiet contemplation in between times. I hope to be back to a regular schedule by Friday. I hope you're having a wonderful week!

Image from Desire to Inspire.

Calling all budding filmakers...

Tourism New Zealand has launched the Your Big Break competition giving budding film makers a chance to work with the Academy Award-winning team from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Finalists will be flown to New Zealand to shoot and direct their own short films on location, with the assistance of The Lord of the Rings executive producer Barrie Osborne and world class post-production facility Park Road Post, in Wellington. To enter visit the competition site here.

Image of Milford Sound from Icebreaker.

In today's post...

When I opened the mailbox today I found this little fellow. Along with his traveling companion, the Peace Crane, Bear had left his home and traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, and most of North America before finding his way to Portland. Both travelers, being quite weary from their adventures, enjoyed a light supper of tea and toast, and have taken themselves off for a nap.

Image by me, more Bears live here.

Cloche hats...

After viewing a few films and reading a book set in the 1920s I have fallen in love with the hairstyles, and in particular cloche hats. The perfect solution to a bad hair day don't you think?

Images from the Condé Nast Store.

Weekend doings...

How was your weekend? Ours was super-duper lazy and potter-y about-y - which was wonderful. The tree went up, Christmas wish lists were written by the boys, a few movies were watched, and the Sunday Best holiday sale was attended. So wonderful to see so many lovely things and all local!

Images clockwise from top left: Pigeon Toe Ceramics; Sara Barner; Elisabeth Bentz; and Hinged Strung Stitched.

Weekly what:nots...

Happy Friday! If you celebrated Thanksgiving I hope you had a lovely time. We spent the evening with friends, and things took an exciting turn when the fire brigade arrived! It certainly made for a memorable evening. On to what:nots for the week - most of which I am coveting for Christmas.

A simple, and elegant (not to mention comfortable looking) dress from Amber Jules.

Lovely photography from Heather Smith Jones.

A delicate finely knitted silver cuff.

One of many gorgeous paintings from kikiandpolly.

Two Tarts Bakery - a scrumptious Portland discovery!

What must be the cutest money box from Three Potato Four.

Images from Amber Jules, Heather Smith Jones, We.ar.it, kikiandpolly, Two Tarts Bakery, and Three Potato Four.