I am on holiday at the moment...you may have noticed due to my heightened blogging! Due to my new savings plan I am limited to window shopping rather than the real thing, which I actually really enjoy more than the real thing a lot of the time.
To let you in on some of my secrets, here are some of the lovely things I have been spying lately! There are links if you are interested in buying them, but please just enjoy them as beautiful artworks xx
I have just returned home after 5 days holiday on the West Cost of New Zealand at my mother and father's new house. They have built separate accommodation for us at the back of the house and it feels like a retro artists retreat. We ate loads of delicious food, drank local wines, cooked, fished and cooked some more, swam and walked in the coastal rain forest. I also had a little time to read. Here are a few that I enjoy or want to enjoy!
Joanne Harris is such an amazing author- she creates a modern fairytale of feminism and domestic bliss. I have read all of her books - The Lollipop Shoes is a great sequel to the popular Chocolat.
For Christmas my lovely man gave me at book called Made at Home by Lisa Stickley because I really want to learn to sew this year.
As you know Etsy is one of my favourite websites. It is a worldwide site of handcrafted or vintage goods by individuals or small crafters. I really love supporting these artists and I constantly find incredible things on it. I have had to start saving for various overseas trips so my appreciation of things things has to be from a distance- however I want you to enjoy them too.
As part of my festivities, I have been making paper cranes to hang in my windows- they look lovely blowing in the wind. My house seems to be filling up with them. In two weeks I head to Japan on a scholarship so my origami skills will hopefully expand.
Here are a few lovely examples of other peoples paper decorations and a great instructional video.
A few more of my favourite bedroom photos. I especially like the one-room studio type look. Open '70s look living. Although I imagine difficult with children (?)
This time last year one of my dear friends got married and I made a thousand cranes (with the help of others!) for her wedding. The first photo has motivated me to make so more- I think enough time has passed.
Oh these photos just make me wish for a longer summer...and a trip to Sweden. I love the natural beauty and simplicity that characterizes a lot of Scandinavian design and fashion. Understated.
It makes me want to pack my bike full of tasty treats, throw on a light, floaty dress and speed through deserted, dirt country lanes in the late afternoon sun.