Crepe Myrtle Crazy

I have been taking pictures all over LA of these gorgeous trees.  They bloom in shades of pink, light purple and white from now through October and after 10 years of being in this city, you would think I would know what they were called.   Finally thanks to Henry Road facebook friends, I am educated and now know that they are Crepe Myrtle and happily reside all over the South.  Thank you friends!  Their luscious color thrills me!

New In the Shop

I am having fun looking for new goodies for the store. It's time to stock up for the season. Where has the year gone? All these lovely items will be on our website within the next week or so.

Bella Italia

It's been a crazy busy week and I got so behind in blog posts.  I hope this taste of a dreamy Italian summer makes up for it. Images by Robert Crum

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

A happy blast from the past to start the day thanks to the writing talents of Ashford and Simpson.

Inside Marimekko

Great feature and photos on Marimekko's printing process and designs. Via ApartmentTherapy.

Pasadena Bedroom

Spot a couple of our pillows in this beautiful bedroom by the fabulous Vanessa de Vargas.

Friday's Fabulous: Maija Isola

Maija Isola (1927-2001) was a Finnish textile designer responsible for some of Marimekko's most iconic designs including the Unikko floral.  Her vast body of work includes over 500 prints.

I love this anecdote on the marimekko site, "In 1970, Maija Isola wrote to her daughter from Paris:
“Bon soir children. I’m having a wonderful time these days. I’ve started working. Once again, I feel as if I’ll never find the time to do even a fraction of all the things I want to do. – – I had a huge floral still-life of sorts spread out wet on the floor, waiting to be rolled up ... paints in yoghurt pots, and newspaper everywhere, and flowers in vases on the floorboards. I bought those to paint from on Pentecost. Large deep-red roses, small and fragrant, curiously furry pink roses, yellow, orange and white poppies, cowslips in various shades of purple, black tulips and tiny carmine flowers whose name I don’t know.”"

Her bold graphics and use of strong color definitely inspired me and influenced my work and for that I thank her.

Images via hellosinki, maikitten,

Happy Weekend

 

Image appeared in New York Times in an article about “Magic Trip: Ken Kesey’s Search for a Kool Place,” directed by Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side,” “Freakonomics”) and Alison Ellwood. A documentary made from rescued footage of a 1964 journey shot by Kesey, the author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and his crew of Merry Pranksters.

Bracelet Bliss

I love piling on bracelets so this feature on Refinery29 was pure eye candy.  The top photo was my favorite.

Penmanship: Il Lee

These incredible large scale drawings were done in ballpoint by Il Lee.  Via Anthology Mag.

Radios

For some unknown reason I am obsessing over gorgeous old radios.  You know the ones with knobs that fall off, that crackle slightly especially when the sound is cranked up enough to drown out my off-key singing.

Images from here, here and here.

Bedroom Bliss

I could move right into this bedroom!  Love the color and textural mix and the great art.   On a purely practical note, the only thing that wouldn't work here in LA is the glass over the bed.   Via SFgirl by Bay

Alison Willoughby

I have been a fan of Alison Willoughby's skirts for years and wandered over to her site today for a 'fix' of imagination, ingenuity and talent.  Alison is known for her highly individual and hand constructed intricate skirts that are essentially wearable art.   I aspire to hang one of her skirts on my wall.

Suzani Love

Loving the use of suzanis in these rooms.   Beautiful black and white dining area by Pip McCully with gorgeous windows and lots of suzani pillows popping some color on the window seat.  And a stunning dramatic bedroom by Marjorie Skouras with a suzani as a canopy and headboard.

Fabulous Home

This home of Jane and Matt Martino featured on Design Files is a wonderful blend of old and new with global influences, lovely architectural features, great art and a handsome cat thrown in.  Love everything including the postbox red backdoor!

At Your Leisure

I thought I would start the week with this wonderful magazine, At Your Leisure that came in the mail last week from Jonathan Lo of J3 Productions.  A smorgasbord of beautiful styling and layout, happy interiors and a celebration of color and things that inspire, it more than lives up to its billing: "This zine is simply: An exploration of ideas, images, concepts and colors.  An homage to those that inspire and a desire to do the same. A visual train of thought.  A celebration of individuals that live what they love."

A limited edition print run is available here.  The photos I took below don't do it justice but should give you a sense of the loveliness inside.  Thanks Jonathan for sending it to me!

I Am Eleven

Life through the eyes of an eleven year old - "not quite kids, not quite teenagers".  The film I Am Eleven premiered at the Melbourne Film Festival last month.  I hope it makes its way Stateside.

I Am Eleven - trailer from I Am Eleven on Vimeo.

via design files

A Winning Pile of Pillows

The winner of our car competition selected this lovely pile of pillows.  Enjoy them, Lori!

Travel Inspiration

Gemma of Line Shape Colour is on the road with her husband.  They are traveling through the Middle East and Asia for four months and she is posting a stunning album of photos on her blog en route.  Enjoy this small selection! 

Surfing Delight

At next month's London Design Festival, there will be a number of installations in the Victoria and Albert Museum.  This visualization of Textile Field by the French design duo, the Bouroullec Brothers brings to mind surfing on stunning turquoise and aqua waves.

Images from here and here.

Seen and Liked

Loving this garage door that creates the ultimate indoor/outdoor dining space.  Wishing everyone a fabulous week!

Flea Market Haul

Got up early this morning and headed for the flea market. My haul included lots of great books, a children's tin car, a tin suitcase, and lots of other goodies.

Friday's Fabulous: A Trip Of A Lifetime

Instead of my usual Friday celebration of a great woman or man, I am celebrating the glorious experience that comes from travel through these three videos that carry the following billing:

"3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.....

= a trip of a lifetime.  Move. Eat. Learn."

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

New Chair

We just got this lovely new old chair back from the upholsterers.  I had fun mixing it up and love the odd arms!  I think this would make a perfect ready chair.