7:45am Staff Meeting

@ The White House.  Wow - he doesn't waste any time!

Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968)

You faced injustice, hate and strife.

You fought for what should be.

You risked and finally gave your life,

So others could be free.

You could have hated, but you chose

To love and understand,

Rejecting violence to oppose

An evil in our land.

You'd not inflame, but still inspire,

With hope that wouldn't yield.

You called for boycotts, not to fire,

With faith your only shield.

You marched in protest for the poor

Of every shade and hue.

So many hardships you'd endure

For those who needed you.

You stirred a nation's heart and mind;

Your message still is clear:

That color's not how we're defined.

Your memory's always near.

Each year your birth's a holiday

The nation honors you,

And wonders when we'll see the day

Your dream at last comes true.

Author unknown.

I Completely Agree - "Hollywood" Luuvs A Comeback!

Hollywood does love a comeback.  This is the first year in many, that I haven't had to attend any of the Awards shows.  Last night, I watched "The Globes" in bed, surrounded by my animals (my Xanax).

Now - I realize there are many who aren't fans of Mickey Rourke and his antics - he's been a bad boy, lets not forget that. But this I loved.  How very honest of him.

"Sometimes when a man's alone, all you got are your dogs and they meant the world to me".

-Mickey Rourke, during his acceptance speech for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.

After asking for a bowl of water, for his beloved "friend" at the Chateau Marmont, he said to a reporter,

"She's like a giant Xanax, you know?  I'm not going to get religious on you ass, but I truly believe God created dogs for a cause.  They are the greatest companions a man could ever have".

-Mickey talking about his 16 year old Chihuahua terrier mix, Loki, at a press conference.

Friday

Have a really lovely weekend.

A Little Color Porn

To start off the New Year - I thought we would start with this Victorian house in London.  Owned by textile designer, Chrissie Probert Jones.  She owns Stitch Designworks which is a gorgeous online textiles store.  (And no, I don't make a commission - I just love her taste).

Ikea sofas in the conservatory.  

White board that covers one wall of the kitchen.

Bits and bobs from Ikea. Is this just a little too much clutter?  I realize that this has probably been styled for this photo.

Note the brick floors.  I do hope they have underfloor heating.

The Frame wallpaper is from Graham and Brown.

The runner is made up of six Ikea runners sewn together by Chrissie.  I love the striped wellies.

The Matthew Williamson from Habitat wallpaper has been customized by light reflecting jewels.

All images: courtesy of Living Etc

Its A Sad Day...

When "Rock Of Love Bus" on VH1 is getting me through the wee hours.  I'm struggling with jet lag!  And there's nothing like flying 1/2 way across the world to put things into perspective for 2009.  Had Christmas and brought in the New Year in the sun.  Its where I grew up so its normal not to be freezing cold over the Holidays.

Are You On The Verge?

Are you getting teary-eyed in the grocery store when "Joy To The World" muzak plays ? Seeing commercials on TV - a smiley "family" exchanging gifts in front of a roaring fire. Wishing you had that perfect, unproblematic family.  Hearing Christmas carols being played endlessly on most radio stations.  When is it all too much ?

There is an older man who lives in my neighborhood.  He walks passed my place at exactly the same time every morning.  Where does he goes? He never has visitors, only goes out for his walk in the morning and to go to the local grocery store.  There is no existence of Holiday decorations at all.

Should I leave a small gift on his doorstep?  He has been my neighbor for almost 3 years. Or does he not celebrate the Holidays because he doesn't believe in them or maybe he doesn't have family, or are they disconnected.  Maybe he doesn't have anyone to celebrate them with and its easier to let it slide by quietly.  Has no-one invited him to a Holiday dinner.  Would leaving a token of the Holidays remind him that he is completely alone.  Why is he alone ?

And what about the woman who hasn't been able to find a job in over a year ?  I asked if she was going to see either of her daughters (who live locally) for Christmas?  "Maybe" she said, "I don't know".

The Holiday Season is bittersweet in so many ways.  Its is the one of the saddest and loneliest times of the year, for more people than we all know.  A time when people who had or are dealing with heartache, loss, tragedy in their lives have those feelings at the forefront.  When some would probably want to curl up in a ball and not deal.  Military families wondering if their sons and/or daughters will be celebrating with them next year.  Gaps around the Holiday table, family members who are out of touch.  

Am I the only one that feels like this?  Am I? Let me know either way.  Are you someone who has had tragedy but chooses to forge ahead with your Holiday head held high?

Back in the Land of the Living

I was here (the above photo), got back on Friday and on Sunday afternoon had possibly the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had.  I've traveled the world, eaten the weirdest food from the strangest places, and yet I know for sure that it was something from my local supermarket here, in Los Angeles.

Spanxs Alert Or Start Your Diet Now

Victoria Beckham (Posh to her friends) released her new line of dresses - "The Dress Collection" at Selfridges yesterday.  By 3:00pm - only 3 dresses were left.  The production was limited to 400 pieces and received rave reviews at New York Fashion Week.

OK - now lets be honest......some of the these are lovely but no one over a size 0 can really wear these dresses.   For those not included in that category it would entail wearing at least 3 pairs of Spanx.

Having You Been Craving Color?

Oh boy, have I ever?  I am forever searching.  My first prowl is always to Corine's Hidden In France.  She always finds the most amazing, colorful treats!  And she makes me laugh out loud!

I am all for color - the brighter, the better.  And right now hot pink has become a little bit of an addiction.  I have always loved color.  It started at an early age - painting my Barbie's plastic shoes with nail polish when I was young, as Mattel just didn't get them bright enough for my taste.

This is Nisi Berryman's 1,100 sq foot, 1950's bungalow.  Its situated in Miami Beach's Palm View Historical District.  She is the founder of NIBA Home showroom, which I could get lost in.

Her home is filled with refinished flea market finds.  She moved walls and added floor boards and valances, to reorganize the floor plan of the house.

The colors in the bungalow range from a very deep chartreuse in the living to this violet in the dining room.  Note: the very retro feathered chandelier.

Lisi designed the magenta Lucite coffee table.  The drapes are made from outdoor fabric.

The moorish-inspired custom headboard is fantastic.  The floor lamp is a custom design from NIBA home, the vintage bedside lamp is another flea market find.

I could be very happy living in this little slice of heaven.  She even has a hot pink front door. My kind of girl!  

And on that note: Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Source: obviously - Metropolitan Home

Hello Dolly

To celebrate Russian Vogue's 10th anniversary, some of fashion's biggest names were asked to design a dress for a matrioshka - a traditional Russian doll.  These dolls were auditioned off for charity.

The designer's sketches were "brought-to-life" so to speak by Russian craftsmen, who  hand-painted the dolls.

Versace

Yves Saint Laurent

Marc Jacobs

Blumarine

Moschino

Emilio Pucci

Burberry

Dries Van Noten

Others included Dolce and Gabbana, Celine, Giorgio Armani, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela and Marni to name a few.

Source: British Vogue

The Man Bra - It Had to Happen

CLICK HERE.......

Nothing fetish about this.  But all I can say is WHY, why?  I can't wait to unleash myself from its hold at the end of the day!  300 have been sold online, in the last two weeks.  Didn't Seinfeld call it "The Bro" or was it a "Man-sierre"?

Source: The Guardian

The Very Talented Soodie Beasley

She is one of my closest friends and after months of harassing her to start a blog, she has, and its just brilliant.  Not only is Soodie an extremely talented interior and furniture designer, web designer, arts and antiques appraiser and educator, she is also an amazing artist who sees the funny side of life.  

A very special Westie sidekick appears in her most of her artwork.  

Take a gander at her blog and website.

On a side note, I sense a cocktail theme in many of her drawings here, and in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with that.

Its Happening Everywhere

College students at a job fair in Changchun, China.

Lets Move To.....oh OK, if you insist!

I just love to read The Guardian on-line.  One of my favorite sections is "Lets Move To......". Every Saturday morning, English houses of every variety are profiled.  From Property Of The Week to Wreck Of The Week (local mice and bats are included).

I spent my most of my "tween" years at a boarding school in the middle of the English countryside. It was originally an Abbey -  cloisters and all.  Extremely isolated - in fact the only structure that signified the village was a mail (post) box and a telephone booth.  

We had "bovver boys" (think bikers) - well what they liked to call themselves anyway.  They were actually the sweet, local boys who would come onto the school grounds at night riding their loud, clacketty motorbikes and circle the fountain.  Maybe thats a whole other post - very St.Trinian's-like.

When I read Lets Move...on Saturday mornings I'm transported back into that time when my only priorities were how to wear three pairs of tights to keep warm, and what concoction was for breakfast.  The school cook was under the impression that if frozen fish fingers were placed in the warming drawers early in the morning, "they'd be cooked by dinner.  Need I say more.

Heads Up Angelenos

Stark Carpet is opening its doors to the public for a limited time in Los Angeles.  There will be over 40,000 square-feet of designer merchandise, at sale prices.  This includes area rugs, wall-to-wall carpets, remnants, fabric and wall covering. 

There will also be specially priced fabrics by Brunschwig and Fils.  I am especially excited about this as I have been looking for fabric to recover a wing back chair which has seen better days!

The sale starts November 14th - November 26th at HD Buttercup in Culver City, California.

Sorry to anyone not in Los Angeles, we will be thinking of you though.

Tatebanko Paper Dioramas with drama

I have never been a fan of the old dusty, dead animal dioramas so these were pleasant surprise.

From Japan, they are a groovy and inexpensive gift.  There are several different varies to choose from and they are sold in kit form.

Tatebanko is the forgotten art of creating 3D scenes from paper.  Was widely popular in the 17th century to the 20th century and then disappeared.  

What a great way to revive and reinterpret this amazing art form.  They are sold individually, or in a box set of 3.

Kits can be purchased from B5+10 which is one of my favorite online stores.

Liselotte Watkins

I think in another life I was probably either Swedish or Danish.  I am forever interested in artists/designers from there.  My latest "crush" is Liselotte Watkins and her extraordinary illustrations and talent.

"People sometimes find the girls in my drawings to be too good looking and inaccessible, but to me they're not.  To me these girls are like friends because I spend so much time with them".

Liselotte Watkins was born 1971 in Nykoping, Sweden.  She studied at The Art Institute in Dallas, USA and has worked as a fashion illustrator since the late 1990's.  Her art reminds me so much of the Biba world in the 60's and 70's, which I love but was too young to be a part of.
She have worked with the following: Vogue (UK, Japan, Italy), Elle (USA,UK, France) and Mac Cosmetics to name, just a few.  I saw her illustrations in the autumn edition of H&M magazine.

She published her first book in 2003.  Entitled Watkins' Heroine, which is unfortunately out of print.  Her cheery, bright illustrations are such a vacation for the senses.

Q: You are famous for doing illustrations of girls with a distinct urban, cool and glamorous look.  How did it all start?

"Urban, cool girls are what inspires me.  Lately urban, cool guys as well, actually.  It started when I was about twelve and went to see Flashdance.  It was a revolution in my life at the time, coming from a small farm.  I wanted to live in a big city, to read Vogue, to have a pit-bull and to weld.  The welding never developed into  career, but I learned how to do it".

The entire interview is here on Pipel.

Kenneth Kvarnström

You may have all realized by now, my OBSESSION with mid century/50's furniture and design.  I simply love the way Kenneth Kvarnström has decorated his apartment in Sodermalm. He's the artistic director for the House Of Dance in Stockholm.

Three entrances into this room create open and easy access.  Kenneth worked with a Swedish architect to alter the kitchen.  What a great way to hold plates and bowls.  And the enormous clock is from TickTockClocks in the UK but I found a similar one at Simply Wall clocks.

These signs were found in Paris where he sometimes works.  Each sign has a memory connected to it.  Note the parquet floors which hide a multitude of sins and are easy to maintain.  I have them in my home and they are brilliant.
Small signs, tags and notes are hung in inexpensive, black frames and are rotated often.  Ikea is always a great place to find a bargain.  The floor has been painted a high gloss white which I personally love.  It brightens up the room and the reflection itself, is an art piece.
His apartment is filled with numberplates and signs as he says they are inexpensive art.  (Sadly in the US they are very pricey and most are fakes.  But the real can sometimes still be found on Ebay).  

Photos: Martin Lof/Martin Lof

Full of hope

130 million people turned out to vote.  The most ever to vote in a presidential election. 

A monumental day.  A bright and hopeful day.  A new day.....

Photo credit: maxedaperture