SELF ANALYSIS?

AUTANT EN RIRE QU'EN PLEURER

image via eccardesign

That is the way some of us feel some of the time, all of us all of the time etc...right?

au revoir.

WHITE HAVEN

DU BLANC DU SOL AU PLAFOND

image bill ingram via dolce vita

I would definitely stay in the shower for HOURS if this were my very own. Love the marble/white subway tile mix and the fabulous detail: tiles on the ceiling. I MUST do that in my next shower, what ever it may look like... and no, I am not imagining, not even for a milli-second, this is what it could look like in my new home. 

Not even close.

au revoir.

WOMEN

LA JOURNEE DE LA FEMME

image feministezine

I keep wondering whether it is a positive that there is such a thing as Women's Day or whether it should be a given that every day is equally women's and men's day. EQUALLY.

At the end of the day, better one (token) day that none at all? 

Is it a small step forward or a kind gesture like still opening the door for us?

Yes, I wonder...

au revoir.

ARCHES AND COLUMNS

ARCADES ET COLONNADES 

When it comes to colonnades and arches, more is more. The enfilade of an army of pillars has a rhythm to it that really appeals to my affinity for order and neatness. To say nothing of grandeur. Add the generous curves of an arch, and you have the perfect balance between strict and sensuous, soft and linear. I find that I often want to say wow! in their presence.

A little climbing greenery never hurts

Arches spell beauty inside and out.

images by me of Tangier and Fes in Morocco, Granada in Spain and the Ardeche in France

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that a caught my eye

image via jjjjound

Cosy mid-century vibe, warm minimalism, simple mountain style, sensual fur and crisp white mix.

au revoir.

THE UNDER-SIDE OF TRAVEL

 LES DESSOUS DU VOYAGE

There are those items that need to go into a suitcase that you don't necessarily want to share with those nice people at the airport. Ingenuity and sophistication to the rescue. Your choice will probably be dictated by your personality.

You say it like it is

You like to make a statement

You travel on the Orient Express

You think ahead

You are sweet and romantic

images pinksaalu, the-gathering-antique-vintage, skacelknitting, paratinovia, style hive, confetti

au revoir.

SEE YOU SOON PARIS

A BIENTOT PARIS

image by me

To see this from one's window every morning...

au revoir.

A NEED/WANT ICON

UN FAUTEUIL TOUT SIMPLEMENT NECESSAIRE 

I love this chair. Add the ottoman in front of it and you have what I consider to be  the most stunning lounging chair on earth. And in white leather? Ecstasy! 

I NEED, need, need, want 2, perfectly positioned in the TV room, so I can watch in utmost comfort the BBC World News and TV5 Monde, my 2 favorite televised sources for news and info, . I need no other...chair nor medium, to be ready for all that sometimes upbeat and often unfortunate content.

images wearesuperfamous, dwellerswithoutdecortors, gapinteriors

au revoir.

SOAP ART

LE SAVON AU SERVICE DE L'ART

image source unknown to me

I dare you to wash your hands when you find this in the powder room...
No, not because it's a bug, because could you really be the one to ruin it?

au revoir.

SHADING 101

NUANCES SIMPLES

image source unknown to me

au revoir.

CARNAVAL!

RIO, LE CARNAVAL!

Huge creativity, tiny costumes, limitless partying.

au revoir.

PRETTY MUCH OUR FUTURE

DANS QUELQUES MOIS

image lys-aelia hart

Tour Eiffel, here we come...how I would love to open my windows and see you every morning, one day.

au revoir.

FRENCH EYE VIEW

COUP D'OEIL

Just something that a caught my eye

image via tumblr

Graphic, contrasting styles and colors, refined and clever.

au revoir.

VASARELY DREAMIN'

JE REVE D'UN VASARELY

I have wished for a painting by Victor Vasarely for as long as I have known he existed. That goes back quite a few years. 

"Best known as the "father" figure of Op Art, Vasarely went through a number of styles to get there... his brilliant work went mainstream, in the forms of posters and fabrics" -wikepedia

Optical art is geometric, colorful, and if you are not careful, it will hypnotize you. I am just kidding but the optical illusions of some Op Art paintings mimick 3D and make some of the elements seem to move around.

"Although the term was coined and the exhibition held in the mid-1960's, most people who have studied these things agree that Victor Vasarely pioneered the movement with his 1938 painting zebra"-wikepedia 

When I read this next comment: "Op art represents a great deal of math, planning and technical skill, as none of it came freshly-inked out of a computer peripheral", I realized that even with the help of a good computer program, it would be very difficult to achieve what Vasarely did.

I suppose I could swing a pale imitation of the top one, but no doubt my inherited share of patience would be pushed to its limit attempting to produce something based on this next one...

This relatively "simple" one looks lie a brightly striped curving corridor if you analyze it, don't you think? 

What persistence, good hand eye coordination perfect control can do. To say nothing of an immesurable talent and sense of color.

His 3D-like paintings are spectacular

I encountered this photo on the net. The blogger who posted this image found this Vasarely in her grandmother's basement and hung it over her sofa instantly! I bet! She also mentions that it is not a painting but a framed scarf by Vasarely. 

Lucky girl!!!

image twilightstarsong, opart.co.uk, picasaweb, design manifest

au revoir.

A LITTLE THE OTHER DAYS ALSO...

OUI, MAIS PAS JUSTE POUR LA ST.VALENTIN...

image j. smith for gptmc

Love statue, Philadelphia, by Robert Indiana 

Happy Valentine's Day!

au revoir.

TO BE ...YOUNG

ON N'A PAS TOUJOURS 20 ANS

one day you turn 25...and that alone is such a privilege!

Have a very Happy Day tomorrow, Joy. I know I will, just thinking of you.

au revoir.

CELEB' CANDLES

LES "IT" BOUGIES

I went to the NY Gift Fair last Monday and among the huge number of booths, I spotted one showing and selling candles "by" Ines de la Fressange, a line called "A Week-End in...." (choose your favorite destination, it's sure to be there...) and present along side it, the equally beautifully packaged line of French star florist Christian Tortu. I admit, both lines were very pleasant looking and smelling.

I tend to believe that anyone with some recognized talent and celebrity status is automatically enrolled to "design" not only perfume- is that already passé?- but also a collection of fragrant candles. Fashion designers, celebrity hair dressers, royalty relatives etc. seem to have had a crack at this seemingly lucrative industry.

Azzedine Alaïa and Frederic Fekkai

Vera Wang

India Hicks

I am not saying these candles are not pleasing. All smell just fine. I am just saying that one line of scented candle is born every minute it seems. 

I have one I stick to always: Vert Bamboo from Mizensir, a candle line with a real perfume company's name on it. Lasts for ever and smells just, what's the word I want...yes: happy!

Now, be perfectly honest: does the world really need yet another beautifully packaged, cleverly-named, celebrity-blessed, over-marketed scented candle? 

And, by the way, does the journalistic lingo/mumbo-jumbo term "It ...something",
 DRIVE YOU as NUTS as it does me?!

au revoir.

FASHION GENIUS IN AUSTRALIA

UN GENIE MODE EN AUSTRALIE

There is a genius in the fashion world of Australia. A GE.NIUS. 

Jessy Cameron was already on top of the game of PR/ press/ media relations of all kinds last year when, I suppose, she decided there was not quite enough on her big Australian plate; she rolled up her fashionista sleeves and took her high heel boots out on a brand new adventure. Molten Store. was born. Its tall, thin, gently determined artistic director/brains/dynamo/buyer/designer travels here there and everywhere to find one of a kind treasures for our great benefit.

the Confetti clutch

You must visit Molten Store. 

You will be delighted. 

She just brought treasures back from her travels (Bali is one of her source destinations, poor sweetie...) I love everything she sees, picks, buys and shares with us. (BTW, she introduced me to Oesop products a few years ago and I can live without them no more). 

Here are a few of her latest finds.

the delicate All Of Me bracelet

the statement Rush ring

and my super favorite

the Thursday In Alcatraz bag.

 Alcatraz? really, Jessy?

I know you will enjoy Molten Store, and the accompanying blog/magazine, and the stunning photography and, well... all of it.

au revoir.