happy!

Lets turn up the happiness on this blog, there's been waaaay too much contemplation-based posting in the past few days, here is a post of some things that are completely frivolous and silly that I love :-)

Owls - I freaking love them.

Via : SuzyWire

I need to make this! Via : Suzywire

Via : Suzywire

Not sure where this one is from but I like it!

Via : Suzywire

how apt...

Crystals....

I've always had a fascination with Crystals, it started when my Dad used to teach us about all the different types in his geological books when we were very young and he would take us to the Natural History Museum where we would look in awe at the enormous Quartz and Malachite displays, I found these beautiful photos via http://suzywire.tumblr.com/ ... Enjoy!

FFFFound....

found via : http://mandr.tumblr.com/page/7

found via : http://www.etsy.com/listing/10376427/scarf-bunny-journal

found via : http://whileyouwerentlistening.posterous.com/site/password/89005

found via : http://thestuntkid.livejournal.com/

we have fun at work....

My very naughty assistant Claudia in a box full of scarves....

Black Tulips....

Last night the Fish in a Tie served me a Black Tulip for dessert....

It was delicious!

origami kitty....

The incredible folding cat!

collection time....

THIS wonderful blog 'A collection a day, 2010' by artist Lisa Congdon is my latest obsession - appealing to the retentive and hoarder aspects of my personality in equal measure and pretty wonderful to look at too (and the good news is that her collection photographs are now being turned into a book).....

Day 235 - Vintage sewing ephemera, supplies, packaging.
Image by Lisa Congdon via : A collection a day, 2010

Day 259 - Tiny vintage plastic and metal toys.
Image by Lisa Congdon via : A collection a day, 2010

Here is the story behind it as she explains on her blog :

"This is a blog documenting a project that will span exactly one year, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. On each of those 365 days, I will photograph or draw (and occasionally paint) one collection. Most of the collections are real and exist in my home or studio; those I will photograph. Some are imagined; those I will draw or (occasionally) paint.

Since I was a young girl, I have been obsessed both with collecting and with arranging, organizing and displaying my collections. This is my attempt to document my collections, both the real and the imagined. Some of my collections are so large that I will need to photograph them separately over several days. I will likely not attempt to photograph collections in which the individual pieces are large in size or awkward in shape (i.e. my art collection or vintage enamel dishware collection). The only rule is that I must photograph or draw a whole or part of a collection each day for 365 days and post the result here on this blog."

Day 241 - Vintage ephemera.
Image by Lisa Congdon via : A collection a day, 2010

Day 249 - Vintage French flash cards (part tw0).
Image by Lisa Congdon via : A collection a day, 2010

I also really like Lisa's other artistic work which can be found HERE on her personal art blog, along with some wonderful photos of her work and adorable doggy wilfredo!

Specs appeal....

love these...

measure my happiness....

I was very happy to receive this brilliant necklace for my birthday last January, it is by one of my favourite ever jewellery designers , Tatty Devine, and was given to me by my two lovely friends Anwen and Claudia - I love it :)

visual list of happiness....

When I'm having a bad day I like to look at pictures of the things that make me happy - here are a few of my favourites....

Making waves....

found via : fine little day

I saw this lovely skirt today - I'm still deep in the scallop theme obviously - it is by a lovely little Spanish company called 'la casita de wendy' and they have some really sweet and original items in their shop, and I love their photoshoot, the illustrations are beautiful!

I particularly like the Wave skirt above and the Owl jumper below....

a perfect bedroom....

photo via Design Sponge : From the home of Helen Palmer

I saw this picture on Design Sponge and I thought to myself, what a pretty little bedroom..... then I realised, I have that bed, that quilt, and a very similar vintage duvet cover!

All I need now is the pictures on the walls and a lovely bedside cabinet....

beer face....

I saw that someone had scraped this little face into a bottle of beer in the supermarket at the weekend, and it really made me smile :)

the brain....

my beautiful ring....

Today I had the most wonderful surprise when my beautiful friend Renaya presented me with a lovely little black box tied up with a black chiffon ribbon.

I opened up the box, and inside was this beautiful ring, what made this even more amazing is that this was her own ring and because she knew I loved it so much and had been looking for one similar she decided to give it to me.

I am so touched by the love and selflessness in this gesture that this ring will forever be so special to me xxxxx

kitty heaven...

bubbles

Pj's....

found via : This isnt happiness by Timothy Buckwalter

This sums me up perfectly - lazy with a passion for Pj's.

the abandoned house....

I found this lovely old house on a website called '100 abandoned houses', which I found via THIS amazing post from the ever lovely Poppytalk.


What a shame they don't build houses like this in the UK, I love the architecture in the US, and would love to get my hands on a property like this to give it some love and a makeover.

paul, lucy and Macarons....

Are an excellent combo :-)

I bought my first ever (huuuuge) Raspberry Macaron from Patisserie Paul the other day in celebration of some excellent news, and enjoyed every tiny pink morsel....

The 'Lucy' blotter was made for me by my lovely assistant and friend, Miss Claudia Sanchiz Garin :-)

my perfect kitchen....

If I had my own house with a perfect kitchen and contents - this would be it.

It makes my mouth water.

the birds....

I picked up this lovely birdy Cruet set from Portobello market a couple of weeks ago, I totally fell in love with them they are so unusual looking, and almost a little bit angry....

They make a very lovely addition to my knick-knack selection at home, and are nicely at home on my cake stand.

Military and brooches....

I love everything about this image, the felt military coat is something I am planning to make this Winter..... and any old brooches from your local charity or vintage shop would do the trick, I also love the idea of a black shirt buttoned all the way up with an oversize brooch at the neck for decoration, Victoriana style....

Chrystal Renn....

I love this girl - she is the new 'Plus Size' face of Chanel, and has an unbelievable story behind her, a real life Rags to Riches tale, its very pleasing to see what I determine to be a 'Real Size' model fronting such a huge fashion house, and she radiates raw sex appeal.

.....read her story HERE.

kettles etc...

I saw this old illustration and several others as part of a display on the sidings of a building development in London's Victoria st.

earring re-invention....

I took 3 pairs of earrings that I had never worn, took them apart and reinvented them into pairs that I would wear or gift to people....

It was so easy and satisfying that I think I might do some more soon!