What:nots...

Hello Friday! My it's felt like a very long week. After a misty start, today turned into a wonderfully clear and crisp autumn day. It made me think of the quote Alexandria posted here. This evening we took advantage of the lack of precipitation and strolled out for a yummy thai dinner, before stopping off on the way home for Mayan hot chocolates at Moonstruck. Tomorrow, at the boys' request, we are off on a family day-trip. R and Mu have devised the route - I'm hoping for a country-ish locale, with lots of fall foliage. I hope you have a lovely weekend in your neck of the woods. And thank you for visiting Elsa May and for your sweet comments. Here's a autumn-ish what:nots...

Elegant black + white, plus love the jacket.

(I can't recall where I got the image...if you know the source please let me know)

Target from Jessica Snow's exhibition Multiple Plot Points.

White shirt + black pant + boots + clutch from Vanessa Bruno = perfect.

Holly Farrell's paintings - this one in particular.

An completely timeless bag from Vanessa Bruno.

Possibly the most perfect cashmere roll-neck sweater from Toast. Is it wrong to lust after a sweater this much?

The name - Divine - says it all. Dark chocolate, citrusy orange, warm ginger - utterly scrumptious.

And given that I'm exhausted after three full-on rides this week I thought I'd end with this wonderful image by Lisa Cueman. If you're interested hop over to here to see more of Lisa's great images.

Images from Jen Bekman, Vanessa Bruno, Holly Farrell, Toast, Divine Chocolate, Lisa Cueman.

My November Guest...

My Sorrow, when she’s here with me,
Thinks these dark days of autumn rain
Are beautiful as days can be;
She loves the bare, the withered tree;
She walks the sodden pasture lane.
Her pleasure will not let me stay.
She talks and I am fain to list:
She’s glad the birds are gone away,
She’s glad her simple worsted gray
Is silver now with clinging mist.
The desolate, deserted trees,
The faded earth, the heavy sky,
The beauties she so truly sees,
She thinks I have no eye for these,
And vexes me for reason why.
Not yesterday I learned to know
The love of bare November days
Before the coming of the snow,
But it were vain to tell her so,
And they are better for her praise.

OK so it's not strictly November...yet. But Robert Frost's My November Guest pretty much sums up the love I have for this time of year - the drum of rain on the roof at night when tucked up in bed, crisp cold frosty days, hearty stews and steaming puddings, bracing walks amongst the trees, roaring log fires, wearing layer upon layer and thick woolly socks, the subtle light of the sun setting across a autumnal sky, misty mornings and frosty fields...there is so much about this season that makes me catch my breath, pause and wonder at the beauty of it all.

Language...

A clever kinetic typography animation by Matthew Rodgers using part of Stephen Fry's essay on language. You can hear the rest of the audio here.
Clip from vimeo.

Igor Melnikov...

There's something about this painting by Igor Melnikov that perfectly suits the cold, wintery, quiet of today. Perhaps it's to do with his seeing his paintings "not as portraits of children, but as portraits of human souls". 

Image from Melnikov Art.

Another year older...

...not sure if I'm any wiser though? Thank you for all your birthday wishes! I was totally spoilt, R surprised me with a surprise dinner here with six friends, the boys made me pancakes for breakfast, I was showered with lovely gifts (a few of which are above), and my family sent me the most beautiful bunch of white lilies and white roses. Honestly, it was so nice I think I'll have another one next year... I hope you had a great weekend, and your week has started well.

2000 miles in 3 minutes...

2000 miles
30 days
3000 photos
in 3 minutes.
In January this year Mike Matas and a friend attempted to drive a rickshaw 2000 miles to the bottom of India. This is a film of their journey. You can see stills here, and hop over here to see Mike's other films + his recent trip through Morocco and Spain.
Clip from vimeo, links found via Little Postcards.

what:nots...

How was your week? Mine was a blur of the boy's activities, appointments, chores, riding, and work. I did find time to have coffee with the uber-talented and utterly lovely Lisa Golightly. What are your weekend plans? I have a photography course this afternoon, so the boys and R are planning a bit of "what-ever boys get up to". Then we are out tonight, and tomorrow is my birthday - whoot whoot. Whatever you are up to I hope you have a lovely time.

The gorgeous Audrey Tatou.

Great album cover + collection of songs + five trees are planted for every CD purchased. You can find out more here.

Hatepe from Derek Henderson's series Mercy Mercer. If you're in New York you can catch an exhibition of Derek's work at the Jen Bekman gallery (you'll have to be quick though, as it closes this weekend).

Bob's Camp by Quercus Design. Hop over here to see more collections Jen's of found objects.

Elizabeth Sheppell's mixed media works on paper.

Love (and I mean love) this roomy tote from Vanessa Bruno.

Lovely wristlet from Ruby Kobo, complete with a Hasma hand.

A 'mouse-in-a-box' from Cox & Cox. So sweet!

 Oh and before I go have you seen this? Such a fun idea.

Images from ffffound, Vanessa Bruno, Derek Henderson, Quercus Design, Elizabeth Sheppell, Ruby Kobo, and Cox & Cox.

For no other reason...

...than I love this image. I hope your week is trucking along. Portland is basking in the most incredible sunshiny autumn weather. Utter bliss!
Image from arrondissement-a.

Photograffeur JR...

In recognition of his pervasive art, photograffeur JR has been awarded the 2011 TED Prize. JR's work spreads uninvited on buildings of Parisian slums, on walls in the Middle East, on broken bridges in Africa, or favelas in Brazil. Afterwards, the images are transported to London, New York, Berlin or Amsterdam where new people interpret them in the light of their own experience. And ongoing art and craft workshops in the originating community continue the work of celebrating everyone who lives there.

JR's Women Are Heroes exhibition, whilst at times heartbreaking, illustrates the incredible underlying dignity and poise of the women he captured. If you're not familiar with JR's work hop over here, you can also watch Parisian's views on his installation along the banks of the Seine. 

Clip from vimeo, quotes from TED.

No plans for today...

Loving these two pieces by Ky Anderson, from the show No Plans for Today. I discovered Ky's work via the 'Collection of Loveliness' that is Field & Sea - well worth a stop for a dose of 'loveliness'.

Images from Ky Anderson.

What:nots...

Well the week just flew by. R returned from New Zealand, the boys went to OMSI camp, then arrived home four days later in a cloud of sand, and here we are at the weekend. So before any more time whooshes by here's what:nots for the week. I hope the week and weekend have been kind to you.

Such a lovely photo of two lovely women.

Lush Bella's souvenirs from a morning walk.

Lanvin's private library, a true treasure trove, captured by The Selby.

My owl obsession continues, helped along by this wee fellow.

Kim Smith's collage pretty much sums things up.

Due for release next month, Deborah Mitford's memoir Wait for Me!

A sweet little print by Raymond Ching.

And another great product from Poketo - Desk-It, a post-it note for your desk. Perfect for habitual list makers like me.

Images from Iconic Photos, Lush Bella, The Selby, Kate Spade, Smith & Co, Amazon, Fine Art Online, and Poketo.