Flights of Fantasy

I was browsing the Anthropologie website last week and was excited to find their new “Gallery” under the home section that is currently featuring the work of the wildly talented French artist, Nathalie Lété.  Nathalie’s work takes on themes of fantasy, humor, and childhood memories, and her exclusive line of home merchandise for Anthropologie consists of ceramics, silkscreens, and lithographs with beautifully painted little girls and whimsical scenes of nature.  Each work of art is playful, precious, and happy.  I keep thinking about how perfect it would be to have a little collage of Nathalie’s ceramics hanging on a wall.  Who wouldn’t want an element of fantasy in their home?

Simpatico

I feel like it’s been forever since my last post!  I’ve been crazed with work, birthdays, life, blah blah.  Thank you to those of you who leave comments – I really appreciate them and they’re always exciting to read.  It’s nice to connect with like-minded people. Speaking of like-minded people, my friend Nicolette (whom I don’t see enough of) had a A Midsummer Night’s Dream theme party a few weeks ago and in typical Nicolette fashion, she went all out and decorated like crazy.  It felt like a fairytale and I wanted to stay all night.  I managed to get a few photos of her amazing outdoor escape, but then I got sidetracked by her cute and tiny apartment and started snapping away pics of her music equipment, old photos, and random little knick knacks that have “Nicolette” written all over them.  I really love walking into a home and seeing the personality of those living there.  I was thinking about how awesome it would be to play a game where you’re given the belongings of various people and you have to guess the owner of each.  Wow, did I just type that?!

The lavish food spread for the party

Nicolette tied all of those flowers and mirrors to her trees.  I wanted to sleep out here.

The drunken punch table.  Anyone who has Haribo gummy bears for their guests to consume is pretty rad in my book.

The Dreamer

I still get all giddy when fall fashion mags start to pour in.  There is nothing better than sitting in my living room on a Sunday morning with a good mag and a cup of tea.  Bliss.  I read the September issue of Elle yesterday and fell madly in love with this editorial shot by Lisa Scheynius and styled by my favorite, Camille Bidault-Waddington.  The model looks like she’s in her own world, roaming the fields and looking out the window at the beaming light as she ponders her life and embraces her spirit, wondering what’s next on the horizon.  Simple settings, the perfect light, and of course, everything that I want to wear.

Wish You Were Here

This editorial was shot by Craig McDean for a 2002 issue of W.  I have held onto it for a while and I couldn’t think of a better time to post it than now as I’ve been thinking what exactly it is that I like about fashion, because honestly, I sometimes wonder. It’s a crazy, self-absorbed world.  When I look at this, I get inspired all over again just by laying eyes on Nicolas Ghesquière’s metal and silk patchwork creation for Balenciaga.  It’s amazing.  A little bohemian, a little futuristic, and a whole lot of sexy.  I would love to own the top and the skirt, but I’d settle for either one.  As for the perfectly unkempt model, I am not sure who she is but she has an earthy, natural glow that I wish I’d see more of in models today.  I adore the happy props of rainbows, clouds, and horses – possibly inspired by the Julie Verhoeven for Louis Vuitton bag in the washed out photo?

What I’m Feeling

A few images that have been inspiring me lately:

Balenciaga Resort 2010.  Frills, bare legs, and those leg warmer boots.

Perfectly dilapidated chair from The George Tavern via The Selby

An old Mayle dress from Net-a-porter

I took this photo at the Hollywood Farmers’ Market a few months ago.  The stripes mixed with florals and those No. 6 clog boots that I’ve been wanting – love it all.

Explorers dressed to the nines.  Found on the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library website.

I wish I knew who made this dress.  I adore everything about this girl.  Found on Style.com (I think)

Maison Martin Margiela magazine table

Culinary Culture

I love food and I love to eat.  In fact, one of my summer goals is to make a new recipe every week.  Since I’m unable to watch television (no reception) I get most of my recipes from friends, magazines, and the internet.  One of my recent discoveries is jamie magazine, and I’m convinced that it has to be the best food magazine out there.  Known to most as “The Naked Chef,” Jamie Oliver can really do a meal right.  His magazine does a brilliant job of paying homage to authentic food around the world, thoroughly explaining the origins, and also introduces various culinary geniuses behind some of the best dishes that I have yet to discover.  Not only are there numerous delectable creations to choose from, but each city described is complete with a mini travel guide highlighting the best of the best – cities to dine in, bars to drink in, farms to visit, etc.  And I should also note that almost every mention is pretty much off the beaten path – my kind of traveling.  Here’s a taste of the July/Aug issue.

Sporades, a group of scattered islands in the western Aegean known to Greek fisherman as the “gates of the wind”.

Dishes from Sporades

Emma Parkin who has her own bread shop in Exeter, Devon.  She says, “There’s something fundamental about bread.  If you think about the word ‘companion’, it comes from con pane, Latin for ‘with bread’.  That’s something people hanker after, isn’t it?  They’re increasingly isolated.  A good loaf is something that can be shared.”

Tom Herbert – Hobbs House Bakery, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.  He says all he ever wanted to do was bake.  Amazing, right?  Also pictured – John Dungavel, The Old Post Office Bakery in London

I want to go to Sicily.  Now.

And when I get there, I want to get all up in this business.

This issue’s travel story was dedicated to Lisbon.

I love all of these tiles.

Bico and Bairro Alto in Lisbon, a cherry brandy in Baixa, and the Carmo ruins.

Museo Coleccao Berardo with an exhibit by Austrian artist, Peter Kogler