summer dresses

2009 April 3
by fran

Although I knew about Joules clothing before, I never knew they did such lovely dresses until Miel et Cannelle mentioned them.  Now, I SO want one.  

THAT one, there, with the brown belt and the gorgeous florals…

I mean, really, how cute are those?  And when the models look like they’re having such fun in them, that pretty much sells anything to me.  I think the British are very good at looking like they’re really loving just wearing their clothes.  Boden, Toast… and now Joules.  Not fair.

bonjour tristesse

2009 March 26
by fran

 

 

Adieu tristesse
Bonjour tristesse
Tu es inscrite dans les lignes du plafond
Tu es inscrite dans les yeux que j’aime
Tu n’es pas tout a fait la misère
Car les lèvres les plus pauvres te dénoncent
Par un sourire
Bonjour tristesse
Amour des corps aimables
Puissance de l’amour
Dont l’amabilité surgit
Comme un monstre sans corps
Téte désappointée
Tristesse beau visage. 

- P. ÉLUARD
La vie immédiate

 

{image from here}


rings on her fingers

2009 March 26
by fran

I love the etsy shop Silverwoods.  Jewellery that’s textured but beautifully simple.  Yes please!

Wave Bangles-

Rose Gold Stack Ring

Silver Petal Earrings

partying

2009 March 25
by fran

Just look at these uber-cool drawings by Esra Røise!  Aren’t they vivid!  And full of life!

dormir

2009 March 23
by fran

Sooo… tired… Saturday night was my friends annual Corndon Cottage birthday sleepover.  I’ve had the privilege of going twice now and OH MY it is SO gorgeous…  This little tiny cottage with no electricity, just gaslights and wood-burners, and a dormitory with loads of ancient sagging mattresses and lumpy pillows, in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  I don’t know who it actually belongs to, but it’s lent out to scouts and groups like that.  It was the most beautiful, beautiful night, completely clear, and we had a bonfire and the stars were massive and piercingly bright.  And I was with a big bunch of fantastic, hilarious, and dear dear friends. 

So I started going to sleep at, what, five in the morning? 

For some reason, these pictures seem just… heaven, at the moment:

{all images via we heart it – sorry, lazy I know}

times are a changing

2009 March 19
by fran

Sometimes, I wish that we could all change our names whenever we liked, to whatever we liked, without going through anything expensive or complicated like deed poll… in the past I would have been Mirium, Genvieve, Naomi – all sorts.

I guess having a blog is like having your own little world.  Over which you have complete control.  So, inspired by Spring and new beginnings and things, I’ve been playing around with titles and looks.  I may or may not be finished.  Any advice would be fantastic – is the jolly sparrow better, or fishing for beautiful?  Should I change the header or keep it? Etc etc. 

Thanks for your patience.

marshmallows and kabanos

2009 March 17
by fran

I am on my own in the house at the moment, Mum and Dad being away on holiday – and it is BRILL.  I can eat what I want, play the music I want, watch what TV I want.  Sure, the novelty wears off a bit when you have to do all the dishwashers and all the other million household jobs, and you can’t get lifts anywhere… but I’m looking on the bright side!

Today I went food shopping and bought all my favourite foods: veg for a stir-fry, kabanos, marshmallows, soya milk for lattes, pierogi… YUM.  It’s so nice going round the shops and just picking whatever you feel like. 

Now I’m going to have a bit of a go at my french coursework, then make my stir-fry, watch the end of my DVD (Elizabeth: The Golden Age – fanTAStic) and hopefully get an early night.

I’ll leave you with a bit of eye-candy to get you through the rest of the week:

Camilla Åkrans » Acne paper » 1

Something about musicians, no?  Photo from here.

plans

2009 March 16
by fran

Well – everything is beginning to take shape… University and all.  Edinburgh said a resounding NO to the two courses I applied for there (both of which, by the way, I was overqualified for) but Warwick said yes.  I’m kind of chuffed because Warwick is known for being cutting edge and interesting – employers love you if you’ve got a degree there – and I was so worried that I’d really messed up in the interview.  So, I’m beginning to be excited!  I’ll have to work my socks off to get there though.  And there’s one down-side to the whole thing: the campus is a concrete hole, in the middle of nowhere.  I’m going to be spending three years in an environment which is totally visually uninspiring, surrounded by students the whole time.  Oh well!  I can cope!  Nearby is Warwick, of course, and that has a lovely castle – and Stratford is about half an hour away – brilliant!  Warwick’s links with RSC are good, so I’d get to watch top plays for a fiver.

Here is today’s inspiration – because it was fantastically, beautifully sunny and Springish:

These are all by Yvette Inufio.  Gorgeous, aren’t they?

gangs

2009 March 12
by fran

I love love love these sexy black-and-white photos by Bruce Davidson:

They’re documenting a Brooklyn gang in the late ’50s.  Very cool indeed, in my humble opinion.

knives and pig’s heads

2009 March 10
by fran

Oh my dears!  I’m feeling terribly inspired!  I’ve stumbled across a whole site with lots of amazing photographers!  Can’t wait to share some with you all. 

Tonight, though, I feel a bit funny and dizzy so I’m off to bed early.  A quick recommendation to make before I go, though: you must all watch Macbeth, the version done by the BBC for Shakespeare Re-told:

Not only is it a BRILLIANT telling of the play, it’s the first thing I ever saw James McAvoy in.  

And my sister, the lucky thing, is off to see the man himself in Three Days of Rain, in London.  She is SO excited – I would be! It’s her birthday present to herself, and we’ve been giving her all sorts of tips on how to get to meet him and what to say if she does… although I think that’s a pretty unrealistic hope!  Never mind.

Sleep well sweethearts.

circus horses

2009 March 9
by fran

I’ve found a find!  Hurrah!  If you don’t already know about Kareena Zerefos then its time you did.  Her illustrations are just… ooooh… wonderful.

 

 

 

This is what she says about herself:

Conceptually based around memories, dreams and nostalgia; Kareena creates a bittersweet, slightly unsettling feeling in her work by exploring themes of isolation and escapism. She works using a variety of media, including pencil, gouache and ink, and often combines traditional drawing with digital graphics.

It even sounds beautiful, doesn’t it?

oranges and lemons

2009 March 7
by fran

It’s time for a picture of flowers.  I love the fresh and joyous colours of this one by Sara Norris:

Ranunculus, Number One - 8x8 Fine Art Print

 

Now, a while ago the rather wonderful tigermilk gave me an award.  What a lovely surprise!

Here is is:

And these are the rules attached:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which you think are fabulous.

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

 

So without further ado, these are my ten, my fabulous ten.  

a vintage sunday 
tender letters 
gris-bleu 
cannelle et vanille
starflower and indigo 
the unicorn diaries 
black eiffel 
unruly things 
tiny.k 
camilla engman

They are all blogs that I should definitely check more often than I do.  So should you all!

Hope you gorgeous folk are having a great weekend!

the soft side of spring

2009 March 5
by fran

via www.polanoid.net

{via polaroid.net}

diy

2009 March 4
by fran

Last weekend, my brother roped in the other Fletcher men to give him a hand putting in a new sink and work surfaces in their kitchen (it is, by the way, a BEAST of a sink.  You could bath the Elf in it.)  To commemorate the gathering of four generations, Elise got the polaroid out.  She took three, one for each of the families.  Aren’t they just wonderful?  They make me glow with pride!

in another time, i visited a sparkling city

2009 March 3
by fran

Oh I want to travel the world.  Starting with Paris.  I miss it.