Painting People

Kris Chau

Philadelphia Weekly Cover

ok. she is my friend and I give her enough shout outs on this blog.

 But, this portrait of Ben Franklin never ceases to blow me away

Daniel Garber

the Studio Wall, 1914

a lot of his works were landscapes of beautiful bucks county, where I grew up

  but this was painted in his home in Philadelphia on Green St.

 Felice Casorati

girl on a red carpet 1912

i respond to this so much because of my love of textiles, prints, and pattern

the perspective of the floral carpet is beautiful

John Currin

Rachel in Fur 2002

this is so fashiony. love.

Lucian Freud

Bella 1981

I've never heard of Lucian Freud until now.  Such a master of portrait painting.  

I love the floral embroidery detail in the clothing

i really like portraits.  We received the book "Painting People" at Petulia's Folly and I discovered a bunch of artists I maybe should know about, but don't.  

Anyway, here are some portraits I've recently come across that I like.... there is a common theme; i tend to gravitate to things involving clothing & textiles.

brides

Caitrin, my almost sister, got married this weekend

and my best friend, Sarah just got engaged

and the beautiful Kate Middleton is trying to steal their thunder!

I pulled out some pretty bride inspired images from my archives

Colors of Creatures of Comfort

this look from COC spring line is so "me." the persimmon skirt is the perfect shade

look at these amazing curtains by Confetti System! Love this color story as well; 

its what I was going for in my jewelry line, unfortunately there were no taupe beads :(

i've always love Creatures of Comfort, but never had a chance to visit since its in LA

excited their new NYC store is much more accessible

The Sweetest Sweater

come on, you knew I couldn't pick just one!

all images from j.crew, madewell, net-a-porter, la garconne, or creatures of comfort

Celebrity Skin

i love some of Adam Goldberg's photos
These make me feel I am in a  dreamy, isolated, mysterious side of the Hollywood hills

"need" and "want" are two different things

I never did understand my mom's rationale

dress by Malene Birger

Ann Yee Collection S/S 11

went to my lovely lovely Ann Yee's spring 2011 presentation last night

here are my top picks 

check the collection out for yourself at annyeecollection.com

Gary Graham Sweater

I tried on this amazing Gary Graham sweater at Shop Sixty Five yesterday and it was L O V E.  I couldn't afford the $738 price tag but, you know, it would really be like getting two sweaters in one.  It flips upside down to become a maxi sweater

Out on a "Lim" again

I was shopping in my hometown yesterday and I came across this vintage maxi dress I was almost certain had to be the "inspiration" behind a 3.1 Phillip Lim dress I always loved. (sorry for the awful pic, my cell is so out of date)

I didn't buy the piece due to the cheap poly fabric and the falling off beads (hey, it was vintage), but for those of you interested, it may still be available at Chelsea for $4o

here is kate hudson wearing it...personally, i would have paired it with better shoes

Rebecca Beaudoin

new jewelry available at petulia's folly

&

etsy

all signs point to yes

Not 30 yet...

grapefruit perfume at barneys, becky kelso green ring, deyrolle book by assouline, j.crew sequin pants, alexa chung's hair

Will You Still Love me Tomorrow

my current jewlery project...hopefully for sale soon at Petulia's Folly and my etsy shop, shesarainbow

been listening to Lykke Li's version of the Shirelle's hit song (thanks Chau!)

Amidala

pretty pretty. from my archives
via vogue c.1999

Dum Dum Girls

been listening to Dum Dum Girls

summer

its been a while

because its

SUMMER!

La Push, Washington

(no I am not a fan of Twighlight, but this place was beautiful! )

I went to Seattle, the Olympic Peninsula,Vancouver city, and Connecticut for two weeks, and am slowly getting back into the work/housework routine.
here are a few things I have been interested in lately...

picked up Revolutionary Road and read it cover to cover on my return flight. Haven't seen the film yet, but am always fascinated with 1950-60s genre (esp gender roles and of course the clothing!) .  Can't wait for Mad Men's return!

i've been very into indian paisley's (loving this Beyond Vintage top from FP )

and woodblock prints (via material concern and more on the subject at  design sponge )

it was my most lovely friend, Kris Chau's 30th b-day !  I got her one of these Cheng & Eng porcelain figurines to keep Yoda company on work desk !  I am obsessed with Cheng & Eng and conjoined twins all together.  I am so psyched to go to Scott's medical school formal at the Mutter Museum , where the famous duo's death cast is on view!  

Watch the film Twin Falls Idaho for more conjoined twins inspiration.

As we get closer to fall, hopefully I can find some more inspiring stuff to post more regularly.  As for now, I am going to laz-about and enjoy the rest of summer.

Twiggy

I was so obsessed with Twiggy as a middle schooler; she was what made me want to become a fashion designer.  At the time, I remember talking to my guidance counselor and being to embarassed to say that was what I wanted to do when I grew up because I thought it wasn't intellectual enough...I told him instead that I wanted to be an artist.

Anyway, it was about the time when I started to learn what the internet was, and I had some Twiggy fan site bookmarked and would just look at it all the time (the theme music was the Beatles "and your bird can sing").  I bought some Twiggy stuff off of ebay, including this original fan magazine

i'm sure my hair stylist loved it when I brought him this how to guide on Twiggy's haircut. I wanted mine exactly like hers.

Will the Real Twiggy Please Stand Up

my previous post was written because I saw this image from Laia's blog 

I thought, "Hey, I've seen that before!"  

CatSpring

ok I honestly wasn't into the whole MeowMiu, Year of the Cat trend as forcasted by Laia .  I've never been a cat person and just didn't get it.
that was until Joey showed up...

we are not sure what his story is, but he started hanging out by our back door and was immediately cuddly and friendly.  I noticed he was a bit chubby and when we finally got him a little box, we discovered he was already trained... we think he might have another home in the neighborhood.
I have so much love for this cat and though he hasn't let us take him in (he loves the great outdoors as much as his free kitty chow and tummy rubs) I think I understand what it means to love a cat.

I love this beautiful photo by Tracey Emin of her cat, Docket, and I really could relate to her love for him

also, here are Tracey Emin's directions for your very own cat quilt here
oh and I love my friend McKenzie's blog of cats sitting in windows
and dreamcats, too... my friend, Lizzy's pretty kitty has a cameo

Pants Dance

I love short summer dresses and yearn to wear them all season long.  Alas, I am cursed with cankles, so aside from the occasional maxi dress, I am subjected to wearing pants.
 ugh...I've been searching hi and low for the perfect pant.  Something comfy and cool (both figuratively and literally); no jeans (I have way to many!)

Anyone have some suggestions?  Here are some I like...

comfy silk trouser from creatures of comfort 

Hope Mr. Trousers also from CoC 

I got these babies at Petulia's Folly (pic fro CoC)....they look great tucked into lace up boots

the terry is SUPER soft...I never want to take them off.  this dress in the same fabric is amazing (if only I had her legs)

available at Petulia's Folly 

I was in LOVE with these matte jersey curator pants from J.Crew 

they seemed like a dream come true.  Until I tried them on in the store and they were too tight on my cankles :(

these are really cute, thought! (and affordable to boot!)