Santa Monica Sunset on Saturday

Inspiration

I had some time this weekend to browse more than usual. Some of the things I liked include horse sculpture by Helen Denerley, 18 century shoes via Trouvais, ceramics by Gervasoni, ship in a bottle by the fabulous Yinka Shonibare for Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, Picasso at the Metropolitan Museum.

Inspiration and Interiors

Daffodils and bedrooms I like.  Unfortunately I can't remember where I found the wonderful Daffodil path. Bedrooms via Livingetc. 

Virginia Graham

Fantastical eclectic ceramics by Virginia Graham.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Such a wonderful name for a flowering plant!  Some pictures I took yesterday, to post today and wish you a wonderful weekend tomorrow!  Happy Memorial Day!

Friday's Fabulous Woman: Cesaria Evoria

Crazy busy week so thought I'd end up with a great singer, Cesaria Evoria, and a soulful song that begs everyone to get up and dance: Carnaval da Sao Vicente.  Born in 1941 in the Cape Verde islands, Cesaria Evoria is known as the barefoot diva because she often appears on stage in her bare feet.  I love the soul and heart in her music.

Artist: Lisa Borgnes

Came across this wonderful art exhibition of Lisa Borgnes' work via a feature of her home in the LA Times.  Her art is perfect combination of clever, creative and visually appealing.  A witty social commentary of today, her poems are painstackingly stitched onto burlap.  I am hoping to find the time this week to stop in and see it before the show ends.

Great Designer Rugs

Designer Rugs in Australia is one of my go to sites for great design.  By definition, rugs are huge canvases so big and bold is a given.  I was excited to see a new collection -- a collaboration with an Australian clothing designer called Alex Perry.  Love, love, love these rugs.  There is an interesting interview on the process of designing rugs with Alex Perry here.

Happy Friday

This colorful little elephant hanging out next to a sphinx is one of 258 scattered around London as part of the Elephant Parade London 2010 which aims to raise millions for conservation charities.  Photo was taken by my sister.

Friday's Fabulous Woman: Rosita and Angela Missoni

Missoni is the only designer clothing that I remember being aware of, and falling in love with, as a teenager.  Rosita Missoni and her husband Tai started the company in 1953, and in more recent years, Angela, their daughter, has been the creative force behind the collections.  Their fabulous colorful striped knitware and creativity has stood the test of time and is as fabulous and modern today as it's always been.  They fearlessly blend pattern in color in both their clothing and home collections. 

Image sources: Guardian UK, Marie Claire Maison,  Independent,  Missoni

Ann Carrington

Ann Carrington's white Queen stamp work has been a favorite of mine for a while.  Thanks to 9 By Design, I now know who the artist is.  Both the works below are big, bold and graphic. As you can see in the detail pics they are comprised of hundreds of buttons stitched on and must have been hours and hours of work. Limited edition prints available here.

Things I Have Seen and Liked This Week

Via CollageADay, LenaCorwin, SkinnyLaMinx, Style-Files, DesireToInspire, ApartmentTherapy, SimplyPhoto

Interiors

I spent some time this morning exploring Marie Claire Maison's website.  Here's some of the rooms I liked.  They are a blend of sophisticated and casual, new and old, with color, whimsy and humor sprinkled around.

Shades of Grey

Spent the weekend playing around with black and white photographs.  Here's some of my doodling.

Friday's Fabulous Woman : Lena Horne

Singer, actress, civil rights advocate and dancer, the unique, talented and beautiful Lena Horne died this week at the age of 92.  Can't think of a nicer way to end the week than a good dose of her gorgeous voice singing Summertime.  The photograph immediately below was taken on her 91st birthday!

More of her songs here.  Picture sources: wdkx, hiphoprepublican,  musicweb