Island Hopping

Hello my beautiful readers! How are you all doing, did you have a good break? I know you guys in the UK and the States have an extra day, due to the bank holiday, you lucky things. After the weekend that I had, I could really do with an extra day of rest. Saturday was such an amazing day, I spent the whole day island hopping! A friend of mine was celebrating her birthday, so she took us on her boats, making a few stops on a couple of the islands around the Veneto region of Italy.

The adventure started from climbing down a ladder to get inside the boat, very scary and exciting at the same time.

We made a quick stop on the island of Isola delle Vignole, to have some lunch. Oh and the captain let me drive the boat a little, it was so good!

After a delicious lunch of pasta and fried sea food, we hopped back onto the boat and continued with our escapade. Then all of a sudden it started to rain, so we stopped on the island of Sant'Andrea, and went inside the fort for some shelter.

We didn't make it to the island of San Terasmo, when the rain finally stopped, we headed back to Venice to get ready for the party.

Here are some more pictures of Venice, isn't it beautiful?

Yes, those are my feet, I wanted to show you guys my pretty red ballerina flats. Aren't they gorgeous?

Some weekend inspirations

As the Americans would say, I need a strong cup of Joe (coffee). I went to a really good party last night, as usual with these type of things, sleep always gets sacrificed. The whole morning has been such a struggle to keep my eyes open, but it was worth it.

The weekend is finally here and I am so grateful! Tonight I will be attending an exhibition of a colleague who has just invented a new way of photography, through the use of a computer monitor (please don't ask me how). Tomorrow, I'll be going to the island of Santerasmo which is near Venice. A friend of mine has hired a boat for her birthday, so that should be fun. Sunday will be spent recovering from Saturday am sure, and that is my entire weekend covered. Actually the boat thing depends on the weather, but we'll see, fingers crossed!

What about you folks, have you made any plans for the weekend?

Before bidding you a fond farewell, let me leave you guys with these pictures that I took yesterday evening, it's the view along the River Silea.

This is my bike path.

....and this is what I look at whilst bike riding, amazing right?

I literally had to stop every so often to capture these beautiful images, and I knew that I just had to share it with you guys.

I do hope you like, my darlings!
Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.

Fabric City

Oh what a beautiful morning! I've decided to make the most of today, because the weather report doesn't look too good for the next few days. There goes my weekend at the beach. So in the theme of beauty, I would like to share with you guys my love of well designed fabrics. Whether it's for dresses, wallpapers, or carpets, am a real sucker for a pretty pattern.

This collection by Tricia Guild, was influenced by her trip to Japan. The lovely patterns represents the spring in Kyoto.

I love Scott Salvator's French interpretation of Indian hand painted cotton.

 

I really like the freshness of Suzanne Rheinstein's take on the English Countryside.

With each of the fabrics, I can imagine where they would go perfectly. The first image of the English countryside would look great on one side of an all white kitchen wall, either in a country house or an English inspired kitchen.

Can you see any of the fabrics in your home, or a project you might be working on?

There are more information about the designers and their collections on the House Beautiful website.

Wish List Wednesday

Morning folks! I came to work earlier than usual so that I can get some free time to blog. I have a feeling that today is going to be especially busy at work, therefore I wanted to make some time to write for you guys. (Thanks for reading my friends, you make all my efforts worth while) Normally I would be tired and a little sleepy, but my bike ride to work really woke me up.

My dears, lately I've been craving macrons, and not just any old one but a Pierre Herme macron. For those of you who aren't familiar with the name, he's the godfather of these delicious French treats. They look really yummy in their lovely colours, but the strange thing is that I've never tasted them, and yet I crave them. Have you guys tried them, and do you like? The magazines and blogosphere won't stop raving about them, is it possible that they are over rated?

I want this Cath Kidston retro radio, period!

This gorgeous vintage pillow is by Kelly Hoppen.

Boudoir of a boutique

Remember when I told you folks that I was becoming more and more Italian? Seriously, I love nothing more than a lazy Sunday evening spent window shopping. The recipe to this is to get together with some friends, and it's very important that everyone has an ice cream, it makes the whole experience even sweeter. Then walking at a leisurely speed, make sure to stop at beautiful window displays and have a peek inside. Well on one of my recent outings, I peered into this window, and was immediately hooked. The decor of the boutique is beautiful, it's so chic boudoir, laden with gorgeous shoes! What's not to love about it? I was quite concerned why I hadn't discovered it before, having lived here for nearly a year now, but the assistants notified me that they just opened......phew!

If you're ever in Venice-Treviso, make sure you check out Augusto Cuomo, it's near the center of town.

The lovely shop assistants Piera and Evelina hung the shoes on the chandelier for me, nice touch don't you think?

Antique Weekend

Morning my darlings! How was your weekend? Mine was jam packed with activities and I simply can't believe it's Monday again, I feel like the last couple of days just flew by. I had an amazing time at a barbecue on Saturday night, but somehow between dancing and taking pictures of my friends jumping in the river (yes they really did, it was one of those lazy spring nights), I came home to find my blue rose missing. I only had it for a week, but I grew attached to it pretty quickly, and am sad to loose it. Right now am picturing it floating alone on the river, I hope somebody worthy of it's uniqueness finds it.

Sunday was another antique day, so of course I had to go.

I think these will look amazing on a terracotta patio.

I literally gasped for this lantern. My friends thought I was crazy, but I think it's beautiful, no?

Adorable gravy boat, yes?

This, I love!

I would have liked to see a whole set of these, they are really pretty.

These two vases particularly caught my eye because they looked out of place in the market. I really like them.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

This was my favourite find of the day! It's so vintage meets fairytale. It isn't made for just any old decor, but in the right setting, it would steal the show.

I got caught in the rain without an umbrella, so I wrapped my scarf around my head. Don't I look so Arabian night? Please believe that the setting and the picture was accidental, we just happened to be near the carpet stall when the rain really started to hit. A stylish accident all the same. No, the scarf isn't from the market, it was a gift from my dad, and he bought it in London.

Am really considering ditching the whole umbrella thing and getting more oversize scarves, am really digging this look, and it's quite practical and stylish, especially if the rain is not that heavy.

So which one of my antique finds, is your favourite?

Friday Greetings

Yeah, the weekend is here! Before packing up my mac book and calling it a day, I have two important things to share with you folks. The first is the new Kyle Bunting chairs, am seriously loving them at the moment.

I would probably just get one to sit in the corner of a room.

The second thing is a blog that I just discovered. I find it ridiculously funny, but I'll let you be the judge. Check out Hot Guys Reading Books and let me know what you think, I would love to know if you recognise any of the men.

Have a great weekend my darlings and keep me posted on what you get up to!

Image of chairs via Interior Design

Colour Comfort

Lately I've been finding comfort in strange things, well maybe not strange, just different.

The beautiful blue rose that I picked up from a hair accessories shop. The funny thing is that since I bought it last weekend, I've worn it practically everyday, but never on my hair. I clipped it straight onto my jacket the moment I got it.

It really complements the subtle purple of my coat. The lady in the shop gave me a funny look when I clipped it on, I guess it's not an Italian thing to do, but I love it. Sometimes it doesn't go with my outfit, it looks a bit too much.

So I wear it around my wrist.

I don't know what it is about this rose, but it's got me hooked, and blue isn't even my favorite colour. There was a pink one, but I specifically chose this one, and now I can't stop wearing it! Perhaps it's the colour that am addicted to, it's like a dark turquoise, and the simpleness of the rose petals adds to the beauty. This particular shade of blue really does it for me, it's cooling and relaxing, it makes me feel at home. I don't know what I feel at home with, but I know I feel at ease, and I look so effortlessly stylish especially when I wear it on my wrist. You wouldn't believe the number of compliments that I've had, people can't help touching it.

I don't know how long this fixation will go on for, but am going to enjoy the feeling for as long as it lasts, and it definitely proves the powers of colour therapy.

How about you guys, is there a particular colour that really does it for you? How does it make you feel?

Wish List Wednesday

Hello my Lovelies, I hope you are all having a good afternoon. I have a tiny confession to make. Remember Monday's post about glamourous living? Lets just say that my imagination sort of ran away with me and before I knew it, I was searching for suitable dinnerware for the luxurious blue dinning room. Naturally, I "accidentally" wondered over to the Versace website.....and the rest is history!

If I had this, I would have dinner parties everyday!

Made totally for afternoon tea with scones.

Do you think I can justify buying this on the grounds of making biscuits.....for a charity maybe...world aid?...no?

I don't own any descent vases, really I don't. It's shameful that everytime I get flowers I struggle to find places to put it. So this will do nicely!

Ok, maybe not a dinnerware, but a very stylish way of applying perfume to yourself.

So which one tickles your fancy?

Scrumptious summer smoothies

I'm so happy to report that I woke up this morning to a beautiful sun filled room! Good bye buses and helloo bike rides in the Italian countrysides. I don't know about you guys but there is something about sunshine that really, and I mean really perks me up. It can turn a boring day into an amazing one, it makes me pick flowers from the garden to adorn myself and sometimes I feel so good I want to skip everywhere. Please excuse my pathetic ways, but living in London doesn't come with such luxuries, so whilst am here, I try to make the most of it. I've been warned by the locals of how intense the heat can be, but with scrumptious smoothies like these, I say bring it on!

Pink grapefruit granita

Tangerine pots de creme

Blackberry smash

Don't they look so delicious? Which one will you like to try?

Recipes can be found on Food & Entertaining

Glamourous Living

Allow me to introduce you guys to Modenese Gastone, the Italian furniture makers. I seriously love their work, and am quite surprised that I've managed to take my eyes off their website long enough to write this post. What can I say, am a strong believer in passing on knowledge and inspirations, especially on Mondays!

This is what I call glamourous living! The black and white bedroom is my favourite, actually I don't want to choose, I want them all. I hope you are listening furniture godmother!

If you guys could have one item, what will it be, and where will you place it?

Images via Modenese Gastone