Wedding Planning!!

Eeee!! I'm excited. I'm planning a wedding!

I've just had my first meeting with the lovely bride. She and I scoped out her reception site (which is currently a construction zone, due to be finished in December). We also exchanged ideas for a fun summery menu.

I won't be giving away her planning secrets before the big day... but I will say, her goal is to have a really FUN night with a elegant-casual ethos. We will be playing with traditional summer fun foods in sophisticated portions and presentation. An added twist is that the bride is allergic to wheat! So our menu will hopefully reflect that.

Stay posted for little bits of inspiration!


















(Image Via: In the Now Weddings)

World Cup

In honor of the world cup... a few fashionable images of Cristiano Ronaldo (sigh, sigh, pine) and Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy.

And the "Little Red Dress" that I would be wearing if I was there!

Cheers all!

(images via: Kickette, Acne)

The Land of Fancy... Plumes

This is an enchanting picture... the sassy sourness of chartruse sweeping down the stairs under a pile of elaborately coiffed hair! The dandy in his top hat and jeweled garberdine... all waltzing and light on a staircase that would make anyone queen princessly.

But of course the most glorious thing in the picture, is the bedazzling set of pink plumes that cap the shimmering royal... something! It could be an umbrella, a carriage, or a litter. Whatever it is... I like it!

This picture cooks up the most wonderful child's room in my mind.










It looks like someone else had the same idea. The color pallet of this room is less "sweet" than the picture above. The room was, afterall, designed for a little boy, named Pierre. Reds and navies over a rustic navajo rug tie the room to a "french-esque" reality; while, at the same time, the soaring feathers are trying to drag the whole thing off into the realms of complete whimsy and fancy.

I like it!

(images via: My files... I'm sorry I can't remember where they came from. If anyone knows, please share!)

Beachin' Weekend

This weekend looks like it is shaping up to be a wonderful one! First... a lovely Southern barbecue cookout with our friends at our priest, the wonderful Father Marc. After that, a weekend of fun with our friends who will be staying with us for the weekend. We're going to mix up our summer sangria and hit the beaches.

By the way... on that note... One piece suits are TOTALLY back in, and more stylish and beautiful than ever. More on that later? I will 100% be sporting mine and lookin' Classy Fab, at all costs.

(Images Via: Martha Stewart, Barbror Sid)

Amani Ya Juu... Higher Peace

A few years ago I spent 3.5 months in East Africa. Mostly in Kenya (Tigoni in Limuru outside of Nairobe). While there I saw, smelled, tasted, learned, and experienced more than I could tell you in a month of Sundays.

I wanted to share one little treasure from my time there that You Can Participate In...

This is a fun (& guilty-pleasure-gratifying) way to Make A Real & Enduring Difference in the Lives Of Women in Kenya.

Amani Ya Juu is an organization that takes suffering, abused, homeless, and marginalised women and children off the streets of Kenya. The foundation teaches them skills (related to sewing and jewelry making), provides them with a trade, equips them with marketing training, and most of all... provides them with a community and a sense of value for their lives.

Here are a few of their beautiful, hand crafted jewelry items. Local seeds, wood, and even bone are used to make these priceless items. When someone says, "Love those earings..." you have a really amazing story to tell them! Conversation piece!

Another of my faves... these salad spoons are HAND CARVED out of high quality wood that holds up wonderfully.

And the cutey-cute-cute little pouch is stitched from locally dyed "kanga" (a traditional wrap skirt materials that you can find in lots of local bazaars and markets.)

Their products are high in quality and so gentle on the buget (by American standards). Not to mention, there is a sweet story of hope and restoration behind every single stitch.

All the money from their gorgeous products goes to continuing the foundation and feeding and clothing the women and their children.  This is truely one of the most beautiful, healthy, and successful versions of "helping Africa" that I have ever witnessed!

Amani Ya Juu means "Higher Peace"... or, (if my memory of swahili serves me right) a word for word translation is "Peace With You." Not only do you get a truely fabulous item when you put your dollars here, you might also get a little higher peace to go with you. =) I'd say that's worth every penny.

Please feel free to post this story or your own favorites of Amani Ya Juu products on your blogs... spread the message about this incredible opportunity.

http://www.amaniafrica.org/

(Images Via: 1. My Photography, 2."Buy a Gift" Image, 3.All Others from AmaniAfrica.Org)

Crazy-Go-Nuts Color

This reckless swirl of color is so free and loose.... and yet it has the elegance of carefully crafted Italian Marbled paper! I'm drooling, my friends. I really am.

I'm not sure I could live in a space inspired by this caotic mayhem of beauty... it would be a little too much... but that's a matter of taste!

Kelly Wearstler, would LOVE a room inspired by this painting. In fact, her house is a great reflection of exactly this.

At one level, this level of wild, no-holds-barred decorating calls into question effects on human psychology.... wouldn't you go crazy after a while with no place to rest your eye or calm your thoughts?

But then again.... maybe your "human psychology" would be insanely happy and gorgeously positive in all of this crazy-go-nuts color.

All I'm saying is.... Love it!

(Images Via: HawLin, KellyWearstler Inc.)

The Gilded Age

Gold is risky business in interior design.

You can end up with a room that looks like it jumped out of the bad end of Baliwood. I think this golden dining room toes the line... but results in success! The shimmering wall hanging balances with the super cool custom light fixture. Harmonious upholstry finishes out the look. Most importantly, the whole thing is tempered with simple white walls and translucent lucite furniture pieces. Way to reign it in!

Here's to you... glitz, gild, and glam it up today!

(Via: 1. Vogue China via BrklynGirl  2. Living Etc.)

Shoes to Rooms

A pair of charming (and functional) shoes that I thought beautifully reflected the deep, deeeeep green lacquer on the walls of this gorgeous room. Note the jumbled patterns and wood finishes... there is a collected confidence about this space.

(Images Via: HighHeelInTheFrontDoor)

I can't remember where the green room picture came from... it is not noted in my files. If anyone knows, please let me know! =)

Business and Pleasure

The Prada 2010 "Resort" collection toes such an ironic line between business and pleasure.

Since the clothes are meant to be worn on vacation, it is witty and tres chic that collared shirts and pull over sweaters are a staple in this collection. But, least we feel like the office has followed us to our island get away, these tailored numbers are all done up in glamorous, eye-popping colors and are paired with whimsical little silk-tied bottoms. Sigh. Groan. Faint.

My inner style compass is especially saying "Yes, Please!" to the almost suit-case-esque bags in jewel tone leather. There is something very "European Cross Country Train Adventure" about them. They make me want to travel.

We're probably not all going to top-flight resorts with our Prada Collection in tow.... but a girl can dream, yes?

Cheers to all.




(Images Via: Purse On Us,  BagBorrowSteal)

Spring Sparkle

We all want a little sparkle in our lives... usually we try shoes or scarves. Why not wild eyes and fearless tights? 

Try these spring/summer beauties on for size. Or if glitter isn't really your thing... just imagine....

(Images Via: Vi.Sualize.Us, Roger Weiss)

Sizzling Shades of Summer

Summer just started to SIZZLE with these hot shades!

This color blocked dress from Thierry Mugler has me absolutely dying to go on vacation! And look... the dress inspires the local. Yes please!

Not only that... but these cheeky shades and saucy lines inspire a truely dramatic interior. Perhaps after we're done on the colorful coast, we can retire for cocktails in this vampy indoor swimming pool extraveganza?

(Images Via: Thierry Mugler, ImageShack, Julia Segal)

Packaging to Sing About

This origami tea bag is right out of the creative mind of Natalia Ponomareva of Russia. As it seems, this beautiful design is still just a concept (not a product you can pick up at your local stores.) On that note, will you all join me in a big "BOOhooHOO!!" 

As you steep your tea, the wings of the little bird unfurl, to send your spirits soaring!

If they ever begin to produce these little beauties... it is at the top of my Christmas list.

(image via: Lovely Package)

Papercuts

The fantastical world of cut paper is an ephemeral place that can tantalize the senses. I look at the extravagant investment of time in these art pieces, and I am blown away by how fragile is the result. It like a testament to the artist's strength of character, in my mind.

Can we really be surprised that paper cutting has made it's way into fashion? Of course not! What a beautiful source of inspiration.

It has been most noteably seen in "mainstream" coutour in the 2009 spring collection of Chanel. All of the head pieces are paper cut creations, while the design of the dresses themselves reflects that inspiration source.

Even the walls (and the grand staircase) of the fashion show venue where swathed in a gorgeous monochromatic while cloud of paper cut flowers. Truely fanciful!

An easy way to put a little paper cut glamour into your own life would be with these exquisitely delicate Mexican paper cut flags from one of my favorite Etsy vendors (see link below). Use them to accent your office space or your children's bedroom... or for a splash of surprise, hang them on the porch for your next summer fiesta! (They come in a myriad of colors.)

(images via: 1.Barbara Ensor 2.Innes Maran 3.Melancholy Smile 4.The Brand Union 5.BeautifulPaper 6.Aymujer)

Graphic Design Experiments

I've been learning a new skill: Adobe Illustrator. That's the boring part..... the fun part is, now I've been working on developing some Personal Branding.

That might not sound very exciting to most... but personal branding is about creating an identity for yourself. You want to reflect who you are, what you do, what your style is, AND AT THE SAME TIME you want a timeless quality, because you can't go changing your logo every time you change your mood. Branding is about visual recognition and your public identity. So it should stay the same. Think, Quaker Oats or Target.

All that said.... I still don't know quite what direction I want to take my own branding.

I'm still experimenting. I just thought I'd share one of my experiments with you.

On the left is the "front" and on the right is the "back" of the business card.

I have the same pattern in a few more color schemes. These were some of my favorites. Sorry for the tacky and horrible editing... Recent events have made me cautious. I hope your imagination can repair the damages. Cheers!

Style from the East

As a lover of style and design, it is a really exciting moment when you realise there is an era, a location, and a name for the style that most resonates with you aesthetically. Right now, for me, it is the Anglo-Indian style.

Now, I'm not a fan of the whole shooting match! Although I admire the way Indian culture boldly and unabashedly embraces color in totally vibrant and saturated hues, I prefer a slightly more restrained pallet. Nevertheless, I LOVE Anglo-Indian antique furniture (or a few modern reproductions). I also love some of their motifs (some of which are modern adaptations of traditional henna patterns).

There is something very round, confident, and big bodied about the designs. It is similar, in that way, to Dutch or Swedish design. At the same time there is that excellent sense of restraint... where restraint is lacking in color it is executed in the carving or the lovely inlay.

Of course I am the furthest thing from an expert, but I'm starting to see the patterns and really appreciate that particular touch of Anglo-Indian antiques. (It was Bunny Williams who launched my first exploration of this subject in her recent visit to Savannah.... I got a picture with this iconic decorator... a picture in which she looks lovely and I look like a hurried wreck.

Cheers all! Never stop exploring!

(Images Via: Bed AnnaSova, Boxes IndiaRose, Lamps 1stdibbs, Lounge Decorati, Inlaid chest Veranda)