Yearning for...

I was over at Lona de Anna this morning, and saw this, and my heart gave a little lurch, and I yearned to be back there. Spring, summer, autumn or winter - it is perfection. Thank you Anna! You can have a peek at more images here.
Image from Home Life.

Weekly what:nots...

How was your week? I hope it was just dandy. Mine was pretty abysmal and ended with another car slamming into the back of mine yesterday. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it felt like the 'perfect' end to a perfectly bad week. So long exhale, it's now the weekend, and I'm about to take the two rowdies to the pool. Before I go here's this week's what:nots. I've gone with a springy-summery theme in an attempt to will away Portland's perpetually grey wet weather.

Elegantly casual by Kate Powers (via wit + delight).

Oliver Jeffers World Domination Map. Each print comes with 51 pins to chart your path to total world domination. 49 of the pins are black, one is red and one is blue. Black is for countries conquered, red is for headquarters and blue is for the next target (via Famille Summerbelle).

Bee Bowl in Perla by Jill Rosenwald.

Toast's bandhini sun dress.

Love these Helena Rohner rings.

Embroidered elephant tea cosy from Rie Elise Larsen.

A great halter-tank for summer.

I'm seriously coveting this clutch (via Mrs Lilien).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Images from Kate Ryan Inc, Oliver Jeffers, Jill Rosenwald, Toast, Helena Rohner, Rie Elise Larsen, J Crew, and Calyspo St. Barth.

Biutiful...

It's been one of those weeks - I hope to post what:nots later tonight, if not tomorrow. In the meantime, this film - Biutiful - looks really, really good. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 grams and Babel) and starring Javier Bardem, I can't wait for it to be released!
Clip from You Tube.

The birthday party...

Loving these slightly surreal photographs from Vee Speers 'The Birthday Party' series. I came across them while reading this. Pretty impressive what you can do in 10 days (and no doubt with a hefty budget). I hope your week is hopping along nicely.

Images from Vee Speers.

Just released is Sir Ken Robinson's 2010 TED talk. Witty and profound Sir Ken 'makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning -- creating conditions where kids' natural talents can flourish'. Well worth 18 minutes of your time, and if you haven't seen it, his 2006 TED talk was also brilliant. And if you hop over here you can find out more about Sir Ken.
Clip and quote from TED.

Monday madness...

How was your weekend? I hope you had fun and the sun shone for you. Ours was very relaxing and quiet - real bliss. Today has been the usual round of Monday madness - roll on Tuesday when things should (fingers crossed) calm down. Loving the head in the sand ostrich wallpaper from Lonny.

Image from Lonny.

The lazarus effect...

There are so many great documentaries out at present and this one The Lazarus Effect offers a sobering look at the cultural pandemic of AIDS in Africa. Directed by Lance Bangs the 30 minute film tells a story of hope in the form of four Zambia residents who successfully access treatment and change their lives. You can find out more about the film here, and read about RED, the non-profit organisation behind the film here.
Clip from You Tube.

Weekly what:nots...

Thank goodness it's Friday! This week has felt rather long, not helped by continual downpours, hail, thunderstorms and general bleakness, and R left yesterday for two weeks in New Zealand. On a brighter note my salmon-pink peonies are blooming madly, our new outdoor table has arrived (yes we chose watermelon), and we have the weekend to look forward to. Hooray! Plus we're busy planning a very exciting summer holiday... How has your week been? I hope it's been lovely, and that you have an even lovelier weekend - with LOTS of sunshine.

Elegant angle, and bundled hair found here.

Love Twig Letters handcrafted with wire, twigs, grasses and dried flowers. 

A perfectly styled collection found on Design*Sponge.

Loving the airy gracefulness of Lacoste's a touch of air campaign.

A rather covetable porcelain bowl from seaurchin.

I confess I feel like this quite often!

And I just can't get this tote out of my head....

ps: thank you for your comments - I plan to spend a good part of tomorrow catching up on all your blogs.

Images from bippity boppity boo, abc carpet & home, design*sponge, lacoste, seaurchin, timothy buckwalter, and j crew.

Black & whites...

Stunning black & whites of Kate Bosworth from Vogue Italia.

I hope your week has been good so far...

Images from Vogue Italia. 

OMG the movie...

One filmmaker, 23 countries, one question: What is God? Oh My God looks absolutely fascinating! 
Found via Christine Ferrante. Clip from You Tube.

Elegant art...

I've just discovered Christine Ferrante's wonderfully delicate artwork. Christine's website showcases a personal collection of her art, visual journals, quotes and thoughts on life. She also has an inspirational blog.

And as one of three designers involved in Crane & Co's new Studio venture, you can read more about Christine here.  

Images and quotes from Christine Ferrante.

Sea bags...

There's a little giveaway going on over at The Willows Home & Garden. Hop over here for a chance to win one of these versatile Sea Bags.

Found via Simple Lovely. Image from Martin Mattox.

An old favourite...

I've been wearing this (which I love), but I have just rediscovered an old favourite Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia. The scent of gardenias is heavenly. It reminds me of visits to my mother, and sublimely wonderful holidays in the South Pacific. Do you have a favourite scent?
Image from Estee Lauder.

The talk...

Julia Sweeney's 2010 TED talk is hilarious. Julia starts off discussing frog reproduction with her eight-year-old daughter, and ends up having to tell a little white lie when things veer off course...
Clip from TED.

Lovely collages...

Meandering through Ink & Peat last week I came across Lisa Onstad's lovely collages (see image from Ink & Peat below). You can see more of Lisa's work here and here. I hope your week is off to a good start, we seem to have hit the ground running....

Images from Lisa Onstad and Housemartin.