{a flickr of light}

Despite numerous attempts to discover new and wonderful things on flickr, never seem to find what am searching for . . . Fortunately have lovely friends {thanks, Felicity!} with a knack for discovering the most beautiful things . . .


{images: shana rae on flickr - via felicity}

{inspiration: pared-down}

Return again and again to this pale and perfectly pared-down room by photographer Paul Massey . . . such a welcoming, laid-back place . . .

{images: livingetc via automatism}

{late summer nights}

Who knew layers & layers of fashion/costume jewelry could be such fun? And even more so with a mix of real & faux pieces for everyday -- paired with a white tank for a sultry summer afternoon, or with black for a cool, sexy summer night . . .

{images: marie-claire, photography by andrew durham; via twitter}

{summer whites + links}

{a few fun links:}
♥ anna wintour on 60 minutes
♥ favourite hello
♥ tie sequins in your hair
♥ fun picnic blanket {via decor8}
♥ lovely summer whites

{posts from the side project you may have missed:}
♥ photography + illustration
♥ pretty + girly at jenny packham
♥ early morning
♥ summer's sexy little one-pieces

{beautiful editorial from Vogue Korea via Luphia loves}

{inspiration: two lovely ideas}

. . . vintage lace in designer Pearl Lowe's home as featured in The Style {with the Times on Sundays}

. . . handbags as artwork in model Liya Kebede's Upper East Side apartment as featured in InStyle

{images: 1 - via Secrets of a Butterfly; 2 - via make fetch happen}

{summertime hair + the winner}

Braids, butterflies and blossoms . . . adoring Argentinean born photographer Diego Uchitel's beautiful shots of summertime hair . . .

{p.s.}
* congratulations to ashley from seattle, winner of the nantaka joy stationery give-away!
* still catching up after a whirl-wind weekend & a little overwhelmed with e-mails . . .

{images: photography by diego uchitel via much love}

{inspiration: vogue paris}

Vogue Paris is inspiring me to spend the summer with smokey eyes and windswept hair. . .

{image: editoria: Florilège; Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier; Styled by Véronique Didry; Model: Isabeli Fontana; Vogue Paris June/July 2009}

{eco-chic: murre handbag}

Handmade, eco-friendly & ultra-stylish: can hardly believe that this beautiful handbag used to be a leather jacket . . .

{murre bag by ashley watson via the candystore collective}

{happy weekend!}

Off to find sunshine & spontaneity and to celebrate being crazy in love and perfectly carefree. . .

Have a beautiful, beautiful weekend everyone!

{p.s.}
* still time to enter the nantaka joy stationery give-away

{images: 1 - house beautiful; 2 - domino}

{laid-back cool}

. . . still obsessed with mike & chris

{via oh joy!}

{chelsea hotel apartment}

Completely inspired by the vibrant eclecticism of Vogue's Fashion News and Features Director Sally Singer's artistic and inviting Chelsea Hotel apartment . . .



{p.s.} more lovely capiz shells here

{images: the selby via fashionologie}

{sentimental}

Being hopelessly sentimental can sometimes result in clutter and always means searching for inspirational storage ideas . . .

. . . wicker baskets beneath the bed are ideal for keeping extra blankets, bed linens and winter sweaters

. . . a wire basket beneath the coffee table is the perfect place to store beautiful design books

{images: 1 - rachel whiting; 2 - atlanta bartlett, at home with white; 3 - traditional home via brabourne farm}

{karl lagerfeld photography + the winner is:}

Immediately fell for Karl Lagerfeld's photography after discovering the lovely {Harper's Bazaar editorial} at Versailles and of course, the stunning {ad campaigns} for Chanel.

These beautiful photographs of billowy, gauzy white dresses against wonderfully ornate backdrops are perfect for today's sunny mood . . .

{p.s.}
* warm congratulations to Camila P, the winner of the lovely cluster necklace give-away!
* nantaka joy stationery give-away continues below

{editorial: 24 hour couture; magazine: Harper's Bazaar June 2007; model: Gisele Bundchen; photographer: Karl Lagerfeld}

{give-away: nantaka joy stationery}

Delighted to announce this week's give-away -- stationery from nantaka joy! Am a huge fan of this lovely paper and pattern line, {especially the kraft and foil combinations} as well as Joy's beautiful blog, {oh joy!}

Give-away includes:
{1} a set of 8 woodcut floral file folders {silver & copper mix}
{2} a set of 6 ombre lace olive tiny cards
{3} an "i love..." platinum notebook

To enter, {click here} to visit the nantaka joy website, then state your favourite item from the site in the comments section below.

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* random selection on Tuesday, May 19, 2009; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include for notification

{summer afternoon}

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."

~Henry James

{images: 1 - Veer via Homegrown; 2 - ffffound}

{happy weekend!}

{thoughts for the weekend}
* take lovely photographs
* daydream
* wear red lipstick

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!
xo

{p.s.}
* cluster necklace give-away continues below
* fun new give-away on Monday!

{image: karolina kurkova at home in yves st. laurent scanned by helenika via starbucks and jane austen}

{beautifully ornate}

. . . beautifully ornate cama portuguesa {Portuguese bed} -- dreaming of waking in regal splendor on a sunny Sunday morning . . .

{image: tear from a past issue of livingetc}

{always elie saab}

. . . giving up jeans forever and spending the summer in this stunning dress . . .

{more lovely tulle:}
* creme puffs & meringue
* marchesa fall 2009 rtw - new york
* balmain

{image: lindsay ellingson in elie saab haute couture via alexandra's favoriter}

{give-away: cluster necklace}

Today's give-away is a lovely, lovely cluster necklace* from Chicago-based JessLC's brand new Astor St. Collection!

A departure from their classic, everyday pieces, the new collection features fun, bright statement pieces that are perfect for summer.

To enter, {click here} to visit the JessLC website or {here} to view the new collection, then leave a comment below.

*choice of five colours: coral {shown}, fuchsia, marble, white or black, in sterling silver or 14kt gold fill chain

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* random selection on Tuesday, May 12, 2009; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification

{impossibly romantic}

Quite adore these pretty floral patterns that remind me of spring blossoms on the English countryside . . . florals seem to exude a relaxed charm, as if staying in a quaint little cottage somewhere impossibly romantic . . .

{see also:}
* the scent of lilacs
* a sunny morning

{images: 1 - shannon fricke; 2 -Perfect English by Ros Byam Shaw, photography by Chris Tubbs via the city sage}

{coffee + thoughts on twitter}

No time for a pretty updo or lovely chignon this morning . . . definitely a top-knot and trench on the way out the door kind of day -- and coffee -- many, many cups of coffee . . .

{hope you had a beautiful weekend!}

{p.s.} what do you think about twitter?
still trying to figure out what to use it for . . .

{images: stylesightings via ruby press}

{happy may + weekend!}

It's the first day of May and the weekend! Excited about the Spring sunshine, open-toed shoes!, and the luxury of a lazy Sunday morning . . .

Have a beautiful, beautiful weekend, everyone!
xo

{guest posts this week:}
* brand new blog: listed
* the city sage: fashionable rooms

{p.s.} the winners of the interior design give-away are:
* in NYC: Lynn Andriani
* outside of NYC: Melisa Russo + Melanie Tolan

{image: flickr}