Hello Lovely

 

This shabby shack in Malibu can only belong
to Rachel Ashwell, who never fails
to capture my heart and imagination
with her understated and soulful
lovely.

She is still rocking my world
with her brand's
comfort, beauty, and function.
And what a treat to chat
with her on the phone
this week...more bout
that later.
She has a new book comin' out, donchaknow.


me in my wedges and apron from Shabby Chic Couture



So chic, so nostalgique!



May I please have a word with folks who
have yet to grasp the fab of the shab
and the enduring beauty of the nearly
25 years of Rachel's Shabby Chic brand?

Nahhhhhh, forget it.

This is not one of those blogs
to duke it out over faded florals
and chippy fleamarket treasures.

It's about ROMANCE, playas.
Effortless, artful, strokes of
funky-fresh-dressed-to-impress-
ready-to-party style.

I'm certain a more hormonally balanced
human would phrase it more eloquently.

 

A sight like this from Rachel Ashwell's
beachy haven makes m'heart soar and
ignites my passion for gorgeous
natural light and a dream
to live by the sea.

 That's her Malibu place, and
stay tuned to see and hear more
about Rachel's B&B property
the Prairie and her forthcoming book

Who craves a romantic Marie Antoinette-ish
moment or ten?

Peace to you right where you are.

images via here and here

A home in Camden, England to

rent for shoots and stuff.
I want the illuminated drapery so badly
I'd trade my lil' ballet slippers for it.

Isn't this place spare and zen?

Linen, hide, grainsack,
chunky knits...a quartet of lovely.

Loving how weathered the floors are.
No fuss.

I've strung rosaries round everything in our home for years,
yet above the tub seems genius.
Which reminds me.

As a teen occasionally bored in church,
my friend Cairena taught me to skim the hymnal
and simply add the words in the bathtub
to song titles...
HOW GREAT THOU ART in the bathtub.
JESUS LOVES ME in the bathtub.
HE LIVES in the bathtub.

While this place might bore the devil
out of some of you, I hear choirs of angels.

What a heavenly breeze this spare place
would be to scrub clean, yes?

photos via

When you walk into our home,

little pale pink touches don't

jump out at you; they whisper.

The Laduree box with macarons is

from my sis, brought home recently from Paris,

and pink stripey straws...I mean. 

You are probably so tired of seeing

the quiet European pink of 'dead'

pointe shoes on this blog, but I

could view images of them all day.



Some new threads for me!

The larger spools were purchased

at Fanciful Designs, and the littles

are from Fahrenheit Vintage,

(a wondrous shop offering excellent

customer service on etsy) offering

silk thread, lace, ribbon, and more lovely.

I plan to use the vintage pink Belding Corticelli

pure silk twist for creating jewelry/art pieces.

Find similar silk thread at Fahrenheit Vintage here.



 Sugar and Spice Washi Tape Trio

I love my pale pink striped kitty

hanging out with these pink washi tapes

from Le Paper Cafe on etsy: offering

washi, packing, and decor tapes.

How much do we like the sound of

'little paperlings?'

Brilliant.

So feminine and fabulous.



Love Poems (New Directions Paperbook)

I could not resist this pale pink

book of love poems from bhldn

or the empty egg I picked up

on the beach the other day in La Jolla.

Did I tell you I took a little trip to

San Diego just 10 days after my

surgery and reconstruction?

This was maybe my favorite place

we visited...Old Point Loma lighthouse.





Love Poems (New Directions Paperbook)

Back to pink!



These are the scents my husband and I

bought in Paris at Diptyque.

Yes, yes, you can buy them at Nordstrom

online, but we loved finding them at the

original Diptyque on Saint Germain.



I would love to discover the source of the pale

blush pink tissue Bhldn uses and make

giant pom poms in this gorgeous hue.

Have your people call my people (that's moi)

if you happen to know.



So many of you responded favorably
to my post about i gigi and the amazing new book.



After buying a copy, I have been savoring
the contents...simply luxuriating
in the quiet humility
and wisdom of
A Life Less Ordinary: interiors and inspirations
by
Zoe Ellison and Alex Legendre.




I highly recommend this enchanting
book by these talented women!

A Life Less Ordinary: interiors and inspirations

Though summer is bursting with happy color,
in my heart it is the faded i gigi neutrals
that soothe. 


'A life less ordinary' certainly applies
to my personal BRCA2 journey right now.
I'm still healing and allowing
this experience to deepen my compassion
and teach me greater humility.


The authors offer all sorts of wisdom
for creating beautiful interiors by
shunning convention and ignoring the rules.


The love and attention to detail
the designers apply to their lives
and i gigi is infectious.





 Oh, this book is a gem you should not miss!

Pinch me.
One of my lil' seascapes
lives in a beautiful space designed
by my friend Loi of
Tone on Tone Antiques
near Washington, D.C.



mine's the little leaning canvas, via

It's in his home office, and I am
sure you are already familiar with Loi's
delicious Swedish antique shop,
dreamy gardens, and amazing travels.
His home, shop, gardens and site will inspire you.


via

Yes, it's beyond craaaaazay that pieces of my art
live in homes sprinkled across the globe.
I'm a poet after all.
Life keeps surprising me.


via

Tone-on-Tone's masterful blue garden
will soon make a royal appearance in
Southern Living magazine...watch for it!


via

What I imagine a corner of heaven resembles.


via


Thanks for reading!

Peace to you right where you are.