Friday, 27 June 2014

FRIDAY'S ARE FOR ....

Villa Clementina

Dreaming of weekends away in tranquil locations such as the above...

And on that note and a splurge of spontaneity I booked a flight to visit a friend in the South of France in August for a long weekend of countryside bliss and hopefully some sun and sea and sand!  Oh and did I mention there will be wine too...?

I am rather looking forward to a lovely girly weekend lined-up: 
Saturday I am going for my 6 monthly dry-(hair)-cut outing with my gorgeous friend Gabby, followed by afternoon tea at BB's bakery.  And Sunday morning my darling friend Marie is coming over for some Qi Gong in the garden, followed by brunch and some girly chitter chatter!  Oh the bliss of all of this!

Are you doing anything nice?  Whatever it may be, have a lovely and inspired weekend you all

x


Image via Pinterest

Thursday, 26 June 2014

FORMOSA ECOLOGY TEA GIFT SET






 





































































































Having just brewed a nice and potent cup of 'bulletproof coffee' to kickstart my day; I stumbled upon this beautifully designed gift tea set.  And somehow my super strong coconut coffee slightly lost its flavour....

The Dieline had this to say:  "Victor Branding Design Corp created a simple yet illustrative package design for Pin Shiang Tea Co., Ltd.'s Formosa Ecology Tea Gift Set. "The packaging design of this fine Taiwanese tea collection not only invites to enjoy a cup of tea, it furthermore communicates the necessity for the protection of certain species. The front of each tea package shows an endangered animal, most of which are endemic to Taiwan.
The charming illustrations have an emotional appeal and call for responsibility towards nature. In this context, the design also points out the importance of sustainable tea production and motivates customers to buy the gift box containing three varieties of tea."

Would love to sell this in my 'once upon a time' shop one day!  Can we not do something similar for the dwindling Rhinoceros and Elephant herds of Southern Africa? 

Image first spotted via Pinterest

Text via thedieline










Monday, 23 June 2014

OUTDOOR INSPIRATION


The Design Files Open House as captured by Megan Morton

UID Architects


Found on greenhavendesigns.blogspot.com
Found on apartmenttherapy.com
Found on fashionmenow.blogspot.com
And now for some lush and lovely outdoor inspiration - I for one can certainly do with a few days of quiet contemplating hanging in this hammock by the pool....  

Our garden needs a bit of an overhaul - I spent most of Sunday morning doing some much needed trimming and tidying up - it looks heaps better already, but there's still so much to do.  A nice way to spend some time though, and being outdoors is so good for the soul; instant therapy!

Hope you made it through today, and wishing you all an inspired and inspiring rest of week  x


Images via Pinterest

BREATHE IT ALL OUT





I need some inspiration, I need some direction and I need a new purpose... but where does one start?

Have you ever felt like that?  Well this is exactly where I am - smack bang in the middle of 'uninspired-land' and its a very foreign place for me to have my mind wonder into that dark abyss.  Drifting drifting deeper into the dark....

So before I get pulled any further into that dark unknown place - I will try to stop myself, take a deep breath in, close my eyes and then just breath it all out.  When I feel like this, I know that I need to just be still, take some time out, don't fight against whatever it is that is happening; and at the same time, I must not allow that this phase take away my inner joy.  Always always always hold on to the joy, because there is so much to be grateful for, so much to still make you smile; even in the midst of a mini mental melt-down.  

When I feel like this, I normally imagine myself in a little rowing boat in the middle of lake or sometimes in the middle of the ocean; and instead of rowing madly for the shore - I just lie down on my back and look up at the clouds in the skies and drift gently to wherever the streams or waves will wash me next.  This imaginary place often helps to calm my mind ever so gently, so I guess that's exactly where I'll be heading next....

If you sometimes also feel like this, try to find an image or create your own beautiful place of calm and still - and whenever your mind starts to wonder or pull you into a thousand different directions, go to that place of calm and still; imagine the sounds around you, imagine the feeling of a soft breeze on your skin,  a sudden splash; and slowly you will unknowingly gather your thoughts and your courage and gently pull your mind back from it's wonderings ....

And once you're back in a good place again, be good to yourself, and be gentle with yourself; but start doing something,  start making lists - look at the things that need to change in your life,  get a new routine into place,  un-clutter your space, do something nice just for you.... just take one day at a time

And always remember - you are not alone ... 
and always remember - you will pull through this ...
and always remember - things somehow always work out in the end...
I truly believe they do

x

Images via Pinterest

Sunday, 1 June 2014

OLA JUNE!


June.... the month of long evenings and early sunrises and al fresco dining and bbq's and picnics in the park!

Oh how we've missed you!

Hoping your arrival will also bring lots of sunshine and no more rain pretty please?

Some summertime inspiration from pinterest.  Was chatting to a friend just the other day, and shared what my ideal summer would be like.  He said 'Darling, you want it all?!  Yes dear, I want it all!!'

Summertime in London can be darn good too - perhaps not quite the hammocks and sandy shores I have in mind, but I will find myself a lush and lovely spot of summer in London this June!  And if I'm lucky, I may just  be able to sneak in a little seaside trip, switch off the phone, soak in some sunny rays and take some time to just breathe and be and enjoy ....  

What are your plans for summer?













Images via my summertime

Friday, 30 May 2014

WELL HELLO FRIDAY!

And just where have you been all week? Looming and hiding way behind Wednesdays and teasing us with your almost magical presence on Thursdays.  And just sure as the sun comes up in the morning you were here today... as promised; always on time.

So here's to you Friday;  the happiest day of the week; the day of the week people look forward to most; anyone who's ever had a bad week or gone through a tough time.... just knowing that Friday is just a few more days of 'holding on and holding out' away, that thought has pulled a lot of us through.
So Friday - thank you for being a great day almost always,  the hopes of whatever we wish to do on the weekend is under your command.  And by that I mean this: ever had the best intentions to go for an early morning run on a Saturday;  followed by a lush and healthy hearty breakfast while the rest of the world is still in a deep sleeping coma..... but on Friday night you caught up with a friend over dinner followed by a slightly later night than planned; which in return means the early morning run on Saturday has gone straight out the window.  That my dear friends is what I meant when I said the rest of your weekend is under Friday's command.

For me I prefer early mornings to late nights out - there is just so much more day out there by just getting up an hour earlier than you normally would. Go on; try it; do it and then let me know how the rest of your day turned out.  It can only be good I promise you!  Start the day by being grateful; that's always first on my list. Grateful for a good night's sleep, grateful for a bright new day, grateful for the challenges and what we have learnt from them, grateful for all the little things that sometimes go unnoticed, and grateful for being who we are and who we are becoming and who we will be one day. Every day we need to ensure we plant good and positive little seeds in our spiritual worlds so when one day we come to reap the harvest; it would be healthy and good and strong and solid in its roots, to carry us forward on our journeys into the world.

Gosh it feels like I'm bursting at the seams with a new born enthusiasm for all things life has to offer.  I recently; just today stumbled upon a beautiful blog called frank-l-in .  I was pinning away, following a repinned pin, to a pinner and so I came to find this lush blog.  So beautifully written is each post, that I can not wait to read some more.  There is so much honestly and it made me realise that what we put out into the world is so important; we have so many avenues to share our thoughts and minds and dreams, to encourage but also to share when we are feeling down and grey and sad.  I got so much out of this blog just the few posts I have read;  it has inspired me beyond measure because it comes from a good place, a good heart; and it made me realise that there are still so many good people out there all willing in their own unique and special way to share their lives and by doing that they are also enhancing ours. We can relate to certain things;  we can be inspired like I am know; we can also learn about how to be more the person we are meant to be.  We have to be open to it and open to allow life to happen in all its magnificent wonder.

But sometimes you feel like things just ain't working out or things aren't how you imagined them to be.  Things are the way they are for a reason; but each and every one of us also has within our grasp the power to change the here and now; and to be the you you ought to be.  And if you don't know who that is.... think about it like this... imagine you receive a letter through your door; it has your name written on it in a beautifully familiar writing, each letter perfectly formed, a stamp from a far away place, and the date.... a far away time. Your heart is now beating a little bit faster, where did this note come from, and who posted it.... You turn the letter over and on the back who find a familiar name; your name.  Now this is crazy, your hands start to shake and you think someone is playing the fool.... but slowly you tear open the letter, and as you do small particles of shimmering magical life start streaming from within.  You feel light headed and excited all at once.  What's happening to you, what's happening around you?  Whatever it is it feels good, very good.  You know whatever you are about to read will be good.  You open the letter and what comes next is almost unfathomable,  how can this be... is it really happening?

You are about to read a letter from the future you.  The you, you are to become..... now its your turn to write this note from the future you.  What will you tell yourself, how will you be,  who will you be..... one things I'd like to ask is to tell yourself that everything will be ok in the end, and if it's not ok, its not the end...

So I want to say thank you to my dear new blogger friend for sharing and for sharing in a voice that feels real and honest and kind.  And thanks for the inspiration! Here's to one and all our of journeys through life, let's make each moment count, lets make each moment though small it may be, mighty in our commitment to having a full filling life, filled to the brims of our potential!  Share your stories and inspire, make your voices heard.

Here's to a good Friday and a great weekend you all
x


A few inspiration morsels for the weekend via frank-l-in









And a couple of personal favourites....






Tuesday, 27 May 2014

THE MONTH OF MAY

What a busy month it's been,  and I cannot believe that it will soon be June!

Socrates says it so well ...

Lindé Davies

Well a few good things did come out of May, and over the last few days of the month I will share with you some details and images of the projects and some concepts I've been exploring.

Would love to hear your feedback and input

Image design by me (quote first spotted on Pinterest)

Sunday, 27 April 2014

A SUBLIME APARTMENT IN AMSTERDAM









A lovely renovation of a former studio complex in Amsterdam.   The owner collaborated with architect 
John Guy Cologne, with whom she has worked on a couple of remodels in the past:  "He always uses the existing. In this case, the industrial character of the property that is the atmosphere. The original steel beams, for example, reinforced by the new doors of glass and steel. " 

The kitchen is a perfect example of how one can combine a contemporary feel with a more rustic look.  The oak fronts for cabinets on the island, with what seems to be a concrete work surface - and the use of old fashioned louvres for the tall cabinets is genial!  I love this combination - pure kitchen perfection!  The use of wood throughout also softens the otherwise industrial interior.  The dining room table and chairs again are very modern and minimal in pure white.

The concrete floor adds a sleek and modern almost minimal feel, and the epoxy finish reflects the light beautifully and adds lightness and brightness to the space.  On the walls a gray betonstuc was used - this is very similar to the micro-cement finish that I often use.

First spotted via pinterest

Read more here 

Images via aterlier rue verte 

Styling Marianne Luning, fotografie Tjitske van Leeuwen

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

MINIMAL MONOCHROME SPACE BY Rzemiosło Architektoniczne








Can this really be a visualisation/ render?

I am speechless!  Wouldn't it be a treat to be able to create such realistic spaces?  Beautiful minimal, whites and greys and woods.  The dark kitchen cabinets really compliments the otherwise white apartment.

I love those wooden chunks for side tables - adds a bit of warmth and a slight rustic feel.

Images via behance

First spotted via cocolapinedesign