Happy 2012...

...may the new year be filled with love, laughter + happiness for all.

Image from Marie's flickr.

Christmas what:nots...

Well here we are it's Christmas Eve - the presents are scattered under the tree, the children are tucked up in bed...ok...not quite - too much excitement! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, and holiday with loved ones. We head off late tomorrow for a fortnight in Vermont, Boston and New York (woohoo!). I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to post while I'm away, but I will be back to regular posting on January 5. Thank you so much for all your comments and support over the past year - the kindness and kinship of the blogging community constantly amazes me. Happy Christmas!

This image from Swedish clothing label Nygårds Anna.

A rather nice excerpt from this NY Times article.

Prada's delicate floral bracelets (+ pretty embroidery) from Spring 2012.

Extraordinary illustrations by Daniel Egnéus.

Love this piece.

Black clay plate with white glaze from Anaise.

Carter Radcliff's book on John Singer Sargent.

Utterly wonderful image from Tumblr.

(I can't find the source, if you know please tell me so I can credit)

And a sweet rendition of Silver Bells by She & Him, 

Images from Nygårds Anna, style.com, Daniel Egnéus, Pinterest, Anaise, and Powell's Books. Clip from You Tube.

Weekly what:nots...

Oooh only one week left...the excitement is mounting around these parts with daily checks under the tree. I have to say I've done quite the stellar job of stealth present purchasing, decoy wrapping, and whopping great fibs to keep everyone guessing. How are preparations proceeding in your part of the woods? For all my efficiency on the present front, I'm woefully behind on the Christmas card front. So much so they're destined to become New Year cards (yet again). I hope your weekend has been utterly pleasant and that the coming week is full of goodness. Thanks for stopping by - here's what:nots.

Love the simple beauty of this image.

Wsake's tiny star necklace.

Asteroids by Victoria Haven.

Olo's Erastus fragrance - tobacco, silver needle + oak moss.

Extraordinary plant photographs by Isabel Bannerman.

Derek Wilson's ceramics.

A stunning book of photographs by Jeffrey Conley.

Love the sunglasses, the dress, and especially the moccasins.

Listening to Birdy - such a haunting voice.

Images from Aubrey Road, Wsake, Victoria Haven, Olo, Jonathan Cooper, Derek Wilson Ceramics, Jeffrey Conley, and Pinterest. Clip from You Tube.

Ten years, one view...

I really like this idea... Renate Aller has been photographing the Atlantic ocean from a single point over ten years. Hop over here to see her images, and here to find out about the project + book.
ps: Happy weekend!
Image from Renate Aller.

Weekly what:nots...

Happy Tuesday eve! Things have been busy around here, and somewhat fraught, but as they say tomorrow is another day. Thank you for stopping by, and especially for your sweet comments - they really do make my day! I hope you're having a good week and that everything is well in your neck of the woods. The not so great stuff aside, we are gearing up for Christmas (only 11 sleeps to go), and have planned a wee jaunt to the east coast (we leave Christmas night!). Do you have holiday plans? Are you travelling, expecting visitors, or staying home...? I hope the remainder of the week is kind to you...here's a rather tardy what:nots. 

Lovely light in this quiet image.

Tantra Song by French poet Franck André Jamme.

Michael Eastman's images.

Bag 001 from Laurence Doligé.

This excerpt from Jenny Bornholdt's Hill of Wool.

Poketo's lovely little pouches (found via Pennyweight).

Antique storage jar from China c.1920.

Peonies by Molly Vidor.

And Kate's wonderful mixtapes - full of goodness (just like the rest of her blog).

Images from Sweet Nothings, Siglio Press, Michael Eastman, Laurence Doligé, Victoria University Press, Poketo, Weiss House, pdx Contemporary Art, and wit + delight.

My Monday...

...has been a bit like this. I'll be back tomorrow with what:nots. 
Image from wit+ delight.

What:nots...

Thank you for stopping by, and thank you for your encouraging comments - things have improved somewhat. How has your week been? It's a bit hard to believe it's December, and that Christmas is just around the corner. We headed out this morning and obtained our Christmas tree - much excitement! Here's hoping we get a dusting of snow sometime soon....having grown up in the southern hemisphere I get ridiculously excited by the idea of a white Christmas. Fingers and toes are crossed. Have a wonderful week - here's what:nots.

Pretty + elegant image from Anthropologie.

Untitled 872 by Lynne Woods Turner.

Faber & Faber's romantic poetry series - the covers are inspired by the classic designs of Josiah Wedgwood, and all the books have beautiful endpapers.

Love this image by Corey Arnold.

A rather nice tray, with an even nicer poem by Kylie Johnson.

Basilius Besler's wonderfully intricate illustrations from the 1600s.

A perfectly nice, and perfectly functional popover from J Crew.

And Mindy Gledhill's sweet song - Anchor.

Images from Anthropologie, Gallery Joe, Faber & Faber, Anthropologie, Audubon Art, and J Crew. Clip from You Tube.

Sometimes...

...when you have a day such as this one, loosing yourself in images of beauty is the answer. Should such a day befall you, may I suggest you peruse this blog which is filled with pages of quiet serenity. And remember tomorrow is indeed another day.

Image from temp files.

Weekly what:nots...

The past week has seen a right-ing of things, enough to put life back on a more tempered and even keel. Such a nice feeling. And then today dawned full of sunshine which was quite the treat after a week of continual rain, crazy schedules, and two boys with colds. We did take in the Body Worlds exhibit a day or so back (along with a gagillion others). Squeamish-ness aside it really is quite extraordinary. I hope the past week has treated you well - did you celebrate Thanksgiving? If so I hope you had fun. Oh and this poem is one of the nicest things (thanks to Kimia for the link). Have a wonderful weekend! 

Love, love, love this image.

Thank you J Crew this is on my Christmas wish list.

Dainty moonstone ring by Carla Caruso.

A zigzaggy green and white tote.

Philipp Haager's painting.

A great gift idea. I'm thinking I'm gonna try growing these myself...

Merchant no.4's covetable cynosure jars.

And How it Ends by DeVotchKa.

Images from Pinterest, J Crew, Carla Caruso, Anthropologie, Pinterest, Sur la Table, Faber and Faber, and Merchant no.4. Clip from You Tube.

Exquisite details...

...captured backstage at the sea-inspired Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 show. 
Clip via eyecandy.

Listening to...

...this - just enough to wake me up after a very late night, and a very slow morning watching TED's Ads Worth Spreading. Time to get things done...
Clip from You Tube.

Weekly what:nots...

Crikey it's c.o.l.d - blue skies, and sunset at 4.30pm cold! Mind you there's something to be said for that time of day, just before sunset, when it gets really cold. Standing there looking at the boughs of bay and holly, thinking of hearty stews, red wine and open fires. As much as I love the sun, this has become favourite time of year. I hope you are enjoying life in your neck of the woods - here's what:nots.

The impossibly chic Emmanuelle Alt.

Love this Adire silk scarf from Anthro.

Pretty bedside table.

(I can't recall where I found this image - if you know the source please let me know)

Elegant silk bra.

A field of irises.

Smythson's Cooper tote.

(note: I suggest you sit down before clicking through and seeing the price)

Seriously wonderful cedarwood candles from Saipua.

These Ariat boots are tippy-top of my Christmas wish list.

And watching this makes me want to run away to the Scottish highlands...

Images from Vogue, Anthropologie, Cos, Bryan's Ground, Smythson, Saipua, Dover Saddlery, and Purdey.