Order in The House

I am totally obsessed with this blog. Why? For her pretty collections shot from above (my current obsession), her use of graph paper and paper doilies (my other current love), her love for her boy (see the little book below she made for him containing pockets of love notes in little envelopes). I love the packaging pics (mmm, candy striped twine) of her pretty creations and I envy the order in which she keeps her blog, sticking to a schedule of Inspiration Monday, Link love Wednesday, and Lovely goods Friday. Wonder what she gets up to on Tuesday? Perhaps she assembles her comprehensive collections. I'd like to think I'll order my blog in the not too distant future, just as soon as I get off my a&se...um, on it rather and get my mind in order...hmm, don't hold your breath. shop here.

all images from oh, hello friend.

Alone

A couple more fabulous stops I recommend you make on the blogger bus are Mimi Charmante, where you'll find lovely images posted by woman who is "aspiring to run a fabulous home, raise the very best future husbands ever, and keep [her] wonderful marriage fresh and lively" & Unruly Things where graphic artist Alyson Graves shares delightful daily inspirations and has a thing for "him, my rats, fresh flowers, dried leaves, colorful fish, little things, polka dots, vintage photos, magazine clippings, laughing until my stomach hurts, cooking, homemade soup, tea, spices, belgian beer, sushi, unfiltered sake, neutral colors, the rain, the smell of lavender, peppermint lotion, flip flops, broken in jeans, warm cookies, surprises, birthdays, music, memories, love." If you had to list 5 things you had 'a thing for', what would they be? & BTW - what is going on in Portland Oregon? So many blogs I have come to admire hail from there, it must be a very cool place full of clever design minds - I think one day I'll need to pay it a visit! Happy weekend. X

Image 1: Dace spring 09 campaign via Unruly Things & image 2: by Mimi Charmante - buy your own from Mimi's shop Little Bluebird Studio.

Sweet Solitude

I love the profile description Natasha offers on her blog She left on a Monday. She writes wittily, self deprecatingly and honestly, sharing what she calls 'her random thoughts' – this one being my favourite. She’s addicted to coffee as much as she is travel – as I am - craving them both desperately and often (me, not her). She has great taste in cookbooks, novels and Melbourne stores – her Etsy shop Bella Luce is blooming with divine flower images on bright white backdrops – love. I know her only as a writer and photographer. She is also a lawyer.

Image 1 from Loupita and image 2 & 3 from She Left on a Monday.

.V Inspiring

Fellow Aussie Vanessa Macphail has a knack for creating eye candy. This graphic designer curates stunning image combinations delicious enough to eat. Or in her words ".love". I think this post is perfect. When I see an image I love, it's a feeling, not a conscious thought. Subconsciously you just 'feel' it - simultaneously devouring it with your eyes and your mind. I think it's this feeling of a 'fleeting whole fulfilment' when we first view a fresh or favourite image that completely satisfies our aesthetic and momentarily satisfies our search for inspiration that also feeds our appetite to search and discover again. If you're ever running low on inspiration 'flow', head over to .v - she gets it right every time.

Image 1 & 3: Sonia Rykiel - spring summer 2008 from .v via flickr. Image 2 from v. via Lolita.

Visiting Hours

Since receiving an E for excellent blog award from Kit, I’ve had black and white on my mind. I’ve also been drinking inspiration from so many lovely blogs since this blog started that the time to pass on some blog appreciation is way overdue. Here is the first batch of places I spend my hours visiting.

1. Blossom - Sharon is a children's wear designer from the UK with a love of lovely things.
2. Co woli poli - Polish for 'what poli prefers' - her clever mixed media posts are my favourite.
3. Daydream Lily – love her Melbourne street art pics – did you notice the gorgeous revamp? Kind of hard to miss...it looks divine - nice work Kit, very nice! Won't be long until I'm asking you to revamp this baby.
4. Loupita - an Irish lass living in Dublin's heart working as a junior accountant and sharing amazing images.

1st row: music & moonlight by twistandfeelonebliss :: white rose white lace by danske - both via Blossom :: 2nd row: white lace curtain by sunshinesyrie via Blossom :: intensity via Loupita :: 3rd row: think pink by cowolipoli :: Natasha Poly for French Vogue 02/05 photographed by Patrick Demarchelier via Daydream Lily.

Sunday in the City

I'd imagine most bloggers would be familiar with Victoria's truly fabulous design and style blog, sfgirlbybay - but my favourite posts are the Sunday in the City diptychs she posts after a weekend wandering about her neighbourhood. I was so thrilled to hear she is having her own photo exhibition opening 23 April. If I lived in San Fran I'd be there with bells on...oh well, for now I'm happy just to show off her amazing images here.

We, The Curators

A Field Journal is bursting with the most divine images of Livy's apartment, craft tutorials and other remarkably lovely things. She is a history and art history student and shares images of her drop down ironing board and favourite vintage things above and pics from her recent 21st birthday party below.

Lovely Lisa left a comment a few days ago which prompted a visit to her darling blog and resulted in the discovery that Monday Blogday was a beautifully curated post of some of my pics - which looked much better than any posts I've put together myself! This got me thinking that we're all curators of our own and others work. That's what our blogs are - hand picked images arranged the way we like them best. I, as I'm sure we all do, trawl blogs and pick out our favourite images and posts. It's so fascinating to see which pics other people select and how they put them together. Thanks again for your support Lisa...it's funny to think that we live within a few minutes of one another - we could be standing next to each other at Jones the Grocer and not even know it!

Images from A Field Journal.

Merci Beaucoup Lobster and Swan

It was with a beautiful sense of relief that I discovered this blogging 'underworld of aestheticists'.

In checking 'aestheticists' was a real word I discovered there was an Aesthetic Movement in late 19th Century France, England & Italy where literary decadence, fine art, the decorative arts and interior design was a theory of art and an approach to living. What a delicious existence.

Merci to Jeska at Lobster and Swan, fellow aestheticist and lover of beautiful things for sharing beautiful collages at Record the Day - these divine daily snippets urged me to create my own blog (and made me feel that I wasn't alone in my compulsive collaging). Check out her shop and other gorgeous images.

Image from Record the Day