the pretty chronicles

pretty pretty

2011-09-29T14:35:00.003+02:00

Another reason for loving washi tape... Awesome keyboard custom by Minifanfan Eng via Poppytalk.

Other side of the world

2011-09-29T08:59:00.003+02:00

Hello my dear blog readers ( are there still any of you out there? ),

4 months of no posting, I wouldn't blame any of you for completely forgetting about me! But I have a great excuse! I've moved to Australia!

Everything was very short notice and the visa process was loooooong ( and still ongoing) , and we are still very much settling in.

So yeah. That's me, holding a koala ( which not legal in every state, so it's pretty cool I managed to do it here, in Brisbane).

ALSO

I have started a new collaboration with the lovely people of Lalaland,: 4 cards and a poster, that you can see here.

The Etsy shop is still closed, but hopefully not for too long.

Anyway, sending my greetings to all of you, hoping you are well :)

Love,

Interview with Sneakypeak

2011-05-20T11:56:00.001+02:00

The lovely Monique over at Sneakypeak interviewed Moi the other day.
It's here if you want to, well, erm, take a peak.... ;)
love,

Royal Wedding fever

2011-04-21T13:40:00.008+02:00

All items sold for the Royal wedding gift range at Liberty

Hello hello!
Wow, less that two weeks until the royal wedding! I am, I'm not gonna lie, super excited.
Maybe most of my excitement has to do with the fact I used to see Wills and Kate at my local supermarket, in restaurants, in the streets... Seriously! I've never talked to them but I also studied at St Andrews University, although I obviously didn't belong to the same social circle! They both graduated at the end of my first year there, so the thrill was short lived, but it was pretty fun catching a glimpse of them while it lasted. Is it weird that I'm excited about the wedding because it feels like I kind of know them?
In any case, the lovely Liberty of London has made sure to provide us with some pretty funky Anglocentric royal wedding mementos. Do you not love Gemma Correl's Corgi tea towel? So cute!

Love,love,love,

p.s:

Me and the royals on graduation day (even though I graduated 4 years after them!)
Obviously, I'm the one in the middle ;)

Work in progress

2011-04-11T14:00:00.003+02:00

Hello dears,

just a sneak peak at the progress of a larger canvas I'm working on at the moment, I thought it would be interesting to show the underpainting layers :)

Love,

Hello Sailor!

2011-03-31T10:50:00.003+02:00

Hello!
A new print is in the shop, and the matching apron is, well, in my other shop!

( Oh and by the way, the cake I made yesterday with the kitchenaid is one one my best yet! It's true what they say about it giving the best texture, absolutely delicious!)

love love love,

And the robot made the cake...

2011-03-30T17:09:00.012+02:00

(photos by me)

♥ Today I got a new toy ♥ .
Ahhhhhhhhhh...I love my new Kitchenaid! I have wanted one of these babies forever, but was always put off by the price-tag. Well , when I noticed they were on sale with a really great mark off, let me tell you, I didn't take much convincing. Most of my pondering was about the colour: only the Classic series white robot was on sale, and the shiny baby pink and ice blue Artisans were not. Which means they were over the double the price of this one. Don't get me wrong, I love colour... But over twice the price? Please... I'm not that stupid.
Also, I know the Artisans are slightly more powerful, but hey, I'm no professional baker, so a 250 w motor will do me just fine.
But because I am me, just to brighten things up, I (slightly) customised it with some of my polka-dot Japanese Washi tape. Comes on and off like a charm, and looks cute!
( I've also already found some online tutorials to spray-paint Kitchenaids yourself, and may attempt that when the warranty runs out! )
And most importantly: I love baking even more now! These machines are so easy to use and get cake batter to that perfect consistency everytime. Above is the Vanilla Sponge I just made :)
Now on an alltogether different topic: don't you just love tulips? They are one of my favorite things about Spring.
Happy Wednesday!!!

p.s: Also, I'm not usually one for naming my appliances, but I think the robot wants to be called Betty :) Very 1950's domestic goddess, non? ( and Madmen related, now that I think about it...hmmm)

Artist Crush: Yoshitomo Nara

2011-03-28T10:05:00.002+02:00

( pics linked to sources)

I love the work of Japanese Pop Artist Yoshitomo Nara. A great blend of cute, creepy, funny and disturbing.

So clever (and cute)

2011-03-26T22:07:00.003+01:00

Wow, I adore these Reusable Fabric Photo Frame decals from Lovemaestore. What a cute way to display pictures in your home without making holes in the walls... And you can change things around and mix things up in an instant! Love love love...

5 years!

2011-03-25T12:42:00.003+01:00

What a milestone! My boyfriend Ewan and I have been together for five years today.
Tonight, we're going out for curry. Keeping it real, you know ;)
Anyway it's been awesome and I'm very lucky. Love you E!

What's in ...

2011-03-23T17:48:00.007+01:00

I love to see what are in other people's bags so I thought I'd post mine. Nothing shockingly entertaining, mind... but hey :)

So, my bag is a Marimekko. It's awesome and I love it ( and it was a present, so it's even better)..oh and it has rabbits on it. People stop me in street because of this bag. Does anyone else out there have the same one? Because I think it's from two seasons ago and I've not been able to find it even on ebay...So I don't know what to tell people when they ask me where they can get one.

In my bag, there is:

- my wallet, which is from Fossil, also a gift, also adorable.
- a notebook
- my ancient 5-year-old cell phone.
- a compact mirror
- H&M organic vanilla lip balm, Lancome Juicy Tubes lipgloss in Strawberry funk, Chanel Aqualumiere lipstick in Amalfi ( best lipgloss and best lippy).
- a Marimekko polarbear pillbox, practical for dumping earings, hairclips and anything tiny in.
- a pencil case
- Hair clip and band
- Fisherman's friend mints. I like very strong mints. Fresh breath is so now.
- a big plastic comb.
- my sunglasses
- my keys
- and super strong pain relief..alas I am a migraine sufferer.
- (not shown) tons of loose change, scraps of paper, and various other crap that I have purged my bag from for now :)
- Oh and snacks, usually!

There you have it :) Pretty boring really, but hopefully it will have satisfied some voyeuristic urges ;)

Stuff I'm loving at the moment...

2011-03-23T13:52:00.003+01:00

1-SPRING is finally here. Thank goodness

2. Marmite. Love it or hate it, I have it everyday.

3. Coral nails, yes please.

4. Asparagus. T'is a short season, I'm enjoying it :)

5. Cambridge Leather Satchels. Want one.

6. Avocados. It's like moisturiser for your insides :D

(all pics via weheartit)

Lemon Cake

2011-03-22T12:01:00.008+01:00

(picture via Weheartit)

Hello!

Ahhh ... Long time no speak...I know, I should try harder. It's just that I get sidetracked, and then I'm like " Oh, I have a blog, don't I?"
Anyway, to make things up to you I'm sharing my delicious Lemon Cake recipe. The other day I had the biggest craving for my mum's Lemon cake, after reading this book. Problem was, I didn't have the recipe handy, and I have no scales. But stuff it, I thought, I want me some Lemon cake. So I adapted a traditional Quatre Quart cake ( Breton butter sponge) to make lemony, and added greek yoghurt in there so it would be moist. It turned out really amazing, even if I say so myself ....And if you want to prove me wrong, just try it! ;)
Note: I measure my "cups" with a little ramekin I have, so they are quite large.
So here goes... You will need:

* 3 large eggs, separated.
* 2 cups of all-purpose flour.
* 1 1/2 cups of caster sugar.
* 1 lemon, zested, juice set aside for the glaze
* Good quality natural vanilla extract.
* 100 g of butter, melted.
* 150 g pot of Greek yoghurt.
* 4 teaspoons of baking powder.
* pinch of salt.

The way to do it:

- Preheat oven at 180 C.
- In a bowl, cream the melted butter and sugar
- Add the egg yolks, pinch of salt, and a good glug of vanilla extract
- Sift in the flour and baking powder gradually, and mix until quite stiff
- Add the yoghurt and the lemon zest.
- Beat the egg whites until stiff and then gently fold in.
- Put in a greased cake tin ( around 10-12")
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until done ( dry knife method)
- Allow cake to cool a little, then prick the top of the cake, and "feed" it the glaze, which is the lemon juice mixed in with some sugar.
- Have the cake stand for about an hour, and enjoy!

It keeps for about five days :) ( if it lasts that long!!!)

Swan dress!!!

2011-02-23T18:40:00.004+01:00

Could this Givenchy couture Swan Dress be any more divine (and cool)?
And Florence suits it so well, and looks like a Mucha lady, which is, well, one of the best looks one could ever achieve in my opinion :)

love,

p.s: London was awesome by the way! I shall have to post some pictures ... :)

1956 Pink Snake Skin Leica... ahhhhh!

2011-02-10T14:38:00.005+01:00

( photo credit/ via Miss Moss)

This amazing, adorable vintage 1956 Leica is unique, one-of-a-kind in the whole world! Ohhhhh...but I want it!!!!
( In other news, London calling friends, will let you know how it goes!)

love,

and BACK!

2011-02-08T15:47:00.004+01:00

meeting a wombat in Ulladula/coconut juice in Singapore/ Getting the fish "pedi"

Hello hello hello!

And a happy New Year, Lunar and all!
So, I didn't fall of the face of the earth, even though I travelled to the other end of it....In fact, I had an AWESOME time. Spending Xmas in sunny Australia with my boyfriend's wonderful family was incredible, and the little 3 day trip to Singapore on the way back wasn't too shabby either. Since then I went back home to France to celebrate my birthday with my family, and I'm now back here in Zurich until Thursday when I fly to London to spend 4 days, and then 5 days in Scotland!!! ( we'll be seeing friends we've not seen in ages, so I'm totally excited)
The travel bug I tell you :)
Sorry for the appalling quality of the photos, I don't know why blogger seems to have messed up their resolution and made them über grainy :(
Anyhow, I hope all of you had a beautiful Xmas and New Year, that lots of eats, presents and good resolutions came your way and that you are all in good health. Here is to an awesome 2011!

love love love,

Fran Healy WRECKORDER

2010-12-02T15:38:00.005+01:00

Hello lovelies!

Wow, it has been so cold and snowy here...And in Europe in general, and it's causing havock!
Anyways, I've just gotten my hands onto Fran Healy's debut solo record WRECKORDER and I love it. So ok, I am a diehard Travis fan, but I must say that I was a bit underwhelmed by their last album, but "vintage Travis" as I like to call it ( The Man Who, The Invisible Band and even 12 Memories that got some stick, but that I still liked) constitutes some of my favourite music ever.
Now, I hesitated altogether about posting this, because I believe there are few things as subjective and personal as music tastes. For instance my boyfriend and I have very little in common when comes to music ( exept for classics such as The Beatles, James Brown and the Kinks I believe). But I can't help myself, I love Travis and I Love Fran ( when I moved to Scotland to go to Uni, I had hoped most Scottish boys would be like him...But alas, no).
ALSO, one of the songs, Sing me to sleep, is a duet with Neko Case( love!) and is so cool. And Sir Paul McCartney also plays bass in As it Comes!

To sum up then...Wreckorder to me is like a return of the Travis sound I loved, with an added depth, melancholy and dreaminess that's difficult to express. This is a good review of the album if you are interested. :)

Have you recently gotten into some new music? Or want to share some oldies but goodies with me?

love love love,

p.s: And can you believe that it's December already? Roll on Xmas fun :)

Long Haul

2010-11-26T18:18:00.005+01:00

Hello hello!

This year, I will spending Xmas in Australia. I am so excited! This will be my first "hot" Chritsmas!!! My boyfriend is an Aussie, and it will so lovely to see his family again and spend the holidays with them .
But, there is trouble in heaven. I am already fretting about the flight, which is 25 hours long. Hard core. Especially as I don't like to fly at all, so spending an entire day in a plane is really not my cup of tea. There is the boredom, the horrible dry air, the insomnia, the plane food (yuk) ...argh.So, I though I would do a post about travel essentials; after all, many of you will be flying to join loved-ones over the holidays, so this could come in handy.
This is my second time flying to Australia, and let me tell you, I sure hope the journey will be more agreable than last time... I have never been so exhausted in my life and was severly jet-lagged for the first 10 days of my three-week stay. Awesome.

So, filled with hope, this is what I shall be taking on-board this time:

* LOTS of water ( dehydration enhances exhaustion, messes up digestion and can give you headaches)

* the Liz Earle Travel Kit ( I love Liz Earle skincare, it is the best I have found yet. It's natural, gentle on the skin, and calms breakouts)

* Herbal Tea ( again, helps to rehydrate and relax you , and caffeine is no good for you when you are flying)

* Travel slippers ( get those shoes off and unwind!)

* A good book or three ( you can't always rely on the tv sets to be working or showing anything of interest, so... By the way, any recommendations?)

* my Ipod.

* Healthy snacks ( plane food= ugh)

* A big scarf to keep warm , use as a blanket/ pillow.

* Baby wipes : amazing to freshen up, clean things with, removing makeup quickly.

* A good concealer, to slap on upon landing and de-zombiefy myself :)

* Lip balm

* Eye mask and ear plugs, for obvious reasons.

And a few more tips to conquer jet lag and be perky on arrival:

♥ Set your watch to your destination's time as soon as you get on the plane, and try and match your biological clock to it. So if it night time over there, try to sleep; if it not, stay awake.

♥ Again, drink lots and lots and lots of water. I've heard 3 litres at the very least for long haul.

♥ Be kind on your tummy: try to avoid foods that are hard to digest along with caffeine and alcohol.

♥ Stretch your legs to avoid DVT. Have a walk, do ankle twirls etc

Any more tips lovelies? I would love to hear :)

Love, love love,

Outside my window...

2010-11-26T14:23:00.003+01:00

Hello dears,

well it's truly winter in Zurich now. It's snowing pretty heavily today, and even my poor veggies are getting a coating! On that subject, I am amazed that my tomatoes, chilly peppers and strawberries are still fruiting! Of course the harvest is more meagre these days, but still! It's freezing out there, and they are resisting quite nicely :) And now it's snowing on them, and no sign of quitting; wait, I might be able to make some "snow strawberry" jam soon !

liebe,

Gorgeous 2011 calendars by Lesley Sico

2010-11-23T20:15:00.003+01:00

( Lesley Sico 2011 Calendars )

Hello lovelies!
I hope everyone is having a pleasant Tuesaday! I cannot believe were are already so close to Xmas and the New Year. It's insane...this year has gone so quickly it seems.
And so it is Calendar time! I am in love with Lesley's beautiful Paris, je t'aime and Pastel Memories fine art photography calendars. I love the fact that at the end of the year, you would be left with beautiful mini prints that you could cut up and use as postcards, or simply frame!

Psst....Lesley's shop is full of other beautiful prints also, and she is offering a special Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale November 26 through 29 where everything in her shop will be 10% off, and in addition she will be giving away a free photo gift to every shopper who purchases 3 or more of her beautiful photos.

love love love,

wow

2010-11-22T15:02:00.003+01:00

(pics via Reshapestudio)

This coffee pot set is mesmerizing, slightly creepy, but total genius to me...
love,

Rock love

2010-11-19T19:20:00.006+01:00

(from left to right, top to bottom: dinosaurtoes, sparcklecouture, elseetee2, nonfictiontees)

Hello!

I am a bit obsessed with minerals and raw gem rocks at the moment. And Etsy is stuffed full of amazing specimens, obviously, which just fuels my obsession. So much colour and sparckle for your buck!
Above are a few of my Etsy favs :)

On a completely unrelated note, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I is amazing. I am so glad they cut the film in two. I was very dissapointed with the Half Blood Prince, as they cut out tons of essential things to cram the film into a mere 2 hours. I started reading the books when I was 12, they are fabulous, and JKR is a superb writer, and I cannot wait to see the last film next July!!!)

love love love,

Toast

2010-11-17T20:04:00.003+01:00

The A/W Toast collection has some truly magical pieces....
Love,

Gocco printed Moleskines

2010-11-16T14:56:00.003+01:00

Hello hello!

Just popping in to say I have just listed some Gocco printed Moleskine notebooks to the shop!
There are only 4 available, 1 Lined and 3 Blank ( 2 Lined ones were indeed sacrificed to the Gocco Gods...Ha! who said screen printing was easy???)
Love,

Coral lips+nails inspiration

2010-11-15T22:29:00.002+01:00

Loving these red-orange hues...
love,

Bears + a bunny lamp = awesome Saturday

2010-11-14T18:37:00.004+01:00

( my awesome bunny lamp, baby bears playing, Mama bear watching her kiddos, and little me)

Hello lovelies!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend :)
Yesterday the bf and I went to visit the city of Bern. It's an hour away on the train from Zurich and we had not been yet, so, because we're ccccrazy adventurous types, we decided to go ;)
And I must say, good times were had.
Bern is famous for its bears, a few of which can be seen in an enclosure in the city center. While I prefer animals to be in the wild, seeing the little baby bears frolicking happily in the tree tops (whilst Mama bear sat at the bottom watching over them) was pretty cute. ALSO we had a delicious ganache filled chocolate bear with our coffee. Always good. The city is very pretty and has some really nice shops. As i wandered into what could only be described as a Swiss "Urban Outfitters" type of store, I spotted one of my homewear Holy Grails: The Bunny Lamp. Now, you have to know that I have been drooling over said-bunny lamp for over a year(I have a "thing" for rabbits and rabbit related things). I discovered its existence through US based design and fashion blogs and have been perusing the internet since, trying to find it at an affordable price. This never happened as I always found it on american sites and when the P&P was added, well let's just say the price got pretty silly ( and after all it's just a novelty lamp even if it is *awesome*). So yesterday, I pounced on it, turned it over, marveled at the cheapness of it, and now it is mine! The secret was the lamp in actually made in Germany, making it cheaper here than in America! Yay!
Okay I will stop now, because I've just looked at how long this paragraph has gotten (!) Let's just say I am very happy to have a glowing bunny in my living room :)
Oh, and you can visit Albert Einstein's appartment in Bern ! Really worth it :)

Don't forget to enter the giveaway ! 3 prints up for grabs!!!

love love love,

Brittle heart

2010-11-12T14:19:00.004+01:00

( pics by Corezone )

I love these ceramic anatomical hearts from Corezone. The artist describes them as" a closed ceramic space, where one can place their thoughts, feelings, emotions. An attempt to fulfill emotional needs by the means of an object, a try to withhold immaterial being in a material space".
It would be a beautiful engagement or wedding gift for the couple to slip vows, wishes, and lucky charms in. I don't think I would want to break it though! I find them too compelling and beautiful :)

love,

Giveaway

2010-11-11T16:31:00.003+01:00

Hello hello!

The lovely Katie is hosting a giveaway for me!
Not 1, not 2, but 3 prints are up for grabs!
To enter, simply go here and follow the rules :) ( Psssssssst...You also earn extra entries if you follow my blog, tweet, blog, or facebook about the giveaway)

And to any of my new followers that have found me via Katie, a warm welcome!

love love love,

Delicious

2010-11-10T10:18:00.005+01:00

(recipe and pic via Veggie Num Num)

Just a quick post to say that this recipe is fully delicious and so quick and easy to make, it's crazy. I adapted the ingredients to what I had in the cupboard and also did a more traditional Italian style pizza using the same method. Both turned out fabulous! Even if you are not a veggie, there is no way you won't like this!

happy puppies

2010-11-09T22:12:00.002+01:00

(source)

Oh my goodness...I really need to stop googling dog pictures, I'm really pining for one! My family has a black lab back home in France, she has just turned 14, it's crazy! I miss her so much!
And how insanely happy do these puppies look? Argh a trunk full of happy dogs, heaven!

love love love,

Luminous idea

2010-11-08T22:56:00.002+01:00

(all pics via madeleineboulesteix.co.uk)

Madeleine Boulesteix makes these beautiful chandeliers out of vintage cake tins and reclaimed cutlery and glass. I think they are pure genius ... There is a certain poetry to cake tins hanging out with crystal :)

Bookish wish list

2010-11-08T16:18:00.000+01:00

Hello hello and happy Monday!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.
This is my book wish list:
♥ I just adore Dyna Moe's retro illustrative style. This Mad Men book is packed full of Midcentury-style goodness, with a good dose of humour!
♥The Babycakes recipe book has been on my wish list for while now too, I mean sugarless cupcakes? Dairy-free frosting? Yes please.
♥Orla Kiely I love love love. Goodness knows I adore strong patterns and bold colours!
♥And last but not least, Emily Martin's wonderfully whimsical Paper doll Primer. I would love to cut these up and display them in shadow boxes, so sweet!

Oh and I just can't resist posting some of Dyna Moe's illustrations for the Mad Men book:

( all pics via amazon )

D.I.Y Cosmic leggings

2010-11-06T17:00:00.003+01:00

Tie-Dyed Leggings via Martha Stewart

Hello!

Check out this cool project over at Martha Stewart... These leggings look almost identical to the crazy expensive designer ones we saw everywhere last season. I love the colors of the ones on the left... Funky!
I hope everyone is having a lovely saturday :)
love love love,

Super Cute FREE 2011 Calendar

2010-11-04T11:16:00.007+01:00

-pic My Owl Barn Calendar-

Hello!
♥ This lovely 2011 owl calendar is available for FREE for us lucky folks to download ♥.
I have, and it's so cute! This is a collaborative project between a bunch of great artists, and you can go and choose which Owl you want to illustrate each month! Genius!
Just click on the litte widget below to dowload yours and print away! ( Obviously, this is for personal use only, and not resale)

color

2010-11-03T14:09:00.004+01:00

Loving this green integrated bookcase against that pink taffeta armchair...
(via Loveology)

Brooches

2010-11-03T09:56:00.003+01:00

Hello!
A few pics of the new handpainted brooches for the shop. It was fun making accesories! These are wood, painted and varnished. They are sturdy yet light, and everyone in one-of-a-kind!
The deer brooch I'm very happy with, it's like a miniture canvas painting.
I bought the smallest paint bruch I could find! It looks super on sweaters and very smart on my trench coat.
I must also say I have renewed respect for everyone that photoshoots things like this. It was so hard getting decent pictures ( and these are not even as good as I would have liked) The luminosity here is terrible at the moment because it is very overcast, and I couldn't use the flash because the brooches are glossy and reflected it! I shall try again soon!
(The red apple and cat brooches are already available in the shop)
Happy Wednesday!

Missoni 2011

2010-11-02T16:22:00.004+01:00

Loving the graphic, folky goodness of the Missoni Spring/Summer '11 collection...

Cat shoes!

2010-11-02T10:51:00.010+01:00

Aren't these Kobi Levi Cat shoes wild? Such a great, quirky idea!
( His other designs are also fun, although some are a little risqué, so click at your peril!)

(via Doe Deere)

my favourite vintage things

2010-11-01T17:24:00.008+01:00

1 ♥ my bf's vintage Werra camera (ebay)
2 ♥ myvintage Swiss watches (ebay)
3 ♥ my mother's vintage heart locket
4 ♥ my grandmother's silver bracelet
5 ♥ my handmade pillbox (trip to Prague)
6 ♥ my mother's Hippy necklace
7 ♥ my grandmother's necklace
8 ♥ my mother's rings ( from the 70's)
9 ♥ my vintage Italian sunnies (Zurich antique shop)
10 ♥ my set of 6 Swedish expresso cups ( market in Goteborg, Sweden)

Hello!
I took these pictures a while ago, and have wanted to do this post for ages now!
These are my favourite old things :)
Most I have gotten through my mum and grandmother, but others were gifts ( the watches, the pillbox) or lucky finds ( the sunnies, the expresso cups, the camera...)
What I LOVE about vintage is that most items come from all over the world and have a story to tell. The craftsmanship is often excellent too, and it's green! I also love the chase... The Swedish coffee cups for instance I saw out of the corner of my eye whilst walking down a busy Goteborg street. I plunged towards them. They were in this massive cardboard box amongst tons of junk, and they were so filthy! The guy selling them was also quite scary ... BUT they were too cheap and too cute to miss. Like 3 dollars for the 6? When I got them home they soaked in vinegar water for an hour before going into the dishwasher and now they are like new! My sunnies were also really cheap and I love them.
I also always wear my grandmother's gold chain when I need some extra courage or good luck. She died nearly 11 years ago now but I really feel connected when I wear this simple gold chain of hers. I did when I graduated, and everytime I fly :)
It's funny how you can cling to stuff... But as everyone seems too, better it be beautiful, meaningful stuff, eh?

Makelike Forest Wallpaper

2010-10-30T01:05:00.003+02:00

This snazzy wallpaper by Makelike is amazing...

(pic via design*sponge)

SALE!!!

2010-10-29T23:07:00.003+02:00

Hello hello!

In preparation for my November update and for the holidays, I'm having a sale!
All the prints are now under $15, perfect little gifts and stocking fillers me thinks!

Loving...

2010-10-25T11:34:00.007+02:00

...This DIY Doily lantern over at the lovely Ruffled Blog, so simple and clever!

Fall colors

2010-10-21T19:35:00.004+02:00

Hello hello :)

phew...this November update sure is keeping me on my toes! I've been drawing, pasting, printing, sculpting ....! I hope I get everything done on time!
This piece is new, and a little different to my usuals,I think. Tonal colors, a moodier scene. I love it, though, and the rabbits! Mild obsession with them. I once had a wonderful house rabbit called Elliot. I miss him so much, he was lovely! He would come when called and sit on the sofa with us!
I also have a few new projects I'm excited about... I shall have to take a few photos and post a sneak peek soon :)

Alfie the persian cat

2010-10-19T20:35:00.005+02:00

Hello friends :)
I hope you all had a lovely weekend!
I have been so busy making things for the shop. I plan on having lots of new things in for an update soon, just in time for the holidays :)
This is my new print. I have always had a soft patch for Persian cats and their smooched up faces and long silky hair. AlsoI liked the idea of a kitty in a snazzy jumper, and the irony of him having a pet dog! And this is how a crazy thought turns into a drawing....
Anyway, I have to run, more work to do! Have a lovely day, all.

Loving Cath Kidston

2010-10-15T14:34:00.005+02:00

Hello lovelies!
Happy Friday! Nearly the weekend, ahhhhhhh...
I had a peek at the Cath Kidston website yesterday for the first time in ages, and well, I want everything it holds!
I am totally in love with the patchwork bag... right up my street :)
And don't you love the Cowboy and Big Smoke fabrics and wallpapers? So so lovely. I love brights and patterns around the home, I think it really perks up the rooms.

(all pics via Cath Kidston)

xxx

New girls

2010-10-14T18:34:00.006+02:00

I want to hold your hand

Baby you can drive my car

Hello again!
Two new prints in the shop today!
These have been finished for a little while, but were pushed aside for some reason...
I think I might be have having a stylistic-identity crisis at the moment. I was working on a new print today, and it's different somehow. I think for the better though. Autumn is making me want earthier colours and less pop pastels... pop pastels will have to go for now.

x

Smeglicious

2010-10-14T15:01:00.005+02:00

Is it weird to be midly obsessed by a type of refrigerator?
Argh I love these Smegs so much! They light up the kitchen!

x

(picture sources unknown, I found them via google and they had all been reblogged without credit, so if you know, tell me and I'll link!)

Tea time!

2010-10-13T18:03:00.005+02:00

This House Likes Tea

Hello darlings!

I think I have teacups on the brain at the moment as I keep getting compelled to draw them!
And I so love tea! I have about 4 cups a day, sometimes more. I love all teas: good ole' English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Green tea, Herbal, Ayurvedic, even Japanese twig tea!
My lastest find (well, my brother pointed it out) is the amazing Yogi Tea Bedtime/Goodnight. It works like magic. So if you have trouble winding down and dropping off, it's worth giving it a go!
( this is the package you get in France, it's yet another in Switzerland, and another in the US I think.Confusing, yeah, but as long as it's Bedtime Yogi tea, it should be the same stuff).

xxx

Owl love you

2010-10-12T21:52:00.016+02:00

(pictures via weheartit)

So adorable!

x

Zurich Zurich

2010-10-12T19:50:00.004+02:00

Zurich Zurich Print

Hello hello!

A new mini print in the shop! I think I shall do more cityscapes and maps soon, I rather like them!

xxx

mini house tour

2010-10-11T16:45:00.009+02:00

Hello again :)

As I so love to have a sneak look inside other people's interiors, I though that I should compile a few pics of my own humble abode.
Here you see only a few little nooks, as I live in a teeny tiny studio apartment, and taking an "view" shot of the entire "rooms" that we have is not all that interesting.
I am, however, incredibly proud of my mini balcony jungle, proof that absolutely anyone can grow their own veggies, garden or not. I have harvested tomatoes, chilli peppers, strawberries, mustard greens, basil, coriander, parsly, and thyme thus far! It has been so amazing, and I have enjoyed it so much. I've even been able to make my own strawberry jam out of my own balcony strawberries! Yum... I also have roses, daisies and lavender keeping the bees and butterflies happy.
My work space is simply a little corner in the middle of the apartment, just under a window. Good light, a comfy chair and a sturdy table is really all you need :)

xxx

Kit Williams

2010-10-11T13:31:00.008+02:00

Brown Hairstreak, Kit Williams

Birdcage, Kit Williams

Badger, Kit Williams

Firmament, Kit Williams

Mistle Toe Oak, Kit Williams

(picture source)

Hello lovelies!

How was the week-end? I hope you all had a lovely rest :)
I've been looking at a lot of Kit William's art lately. There is something so timeless and ethereal about it, and it always fills me with wonder. I have known of Kit's work for a long time as my parents own a few of the books he illustrated, including Masquerade. As a child, I would flick through them, and walk my eyes through all the intricate details of every picture. I would get particularily obsessed with the fruit, flowers and bees that were so wonderfully depicted. Today, as a bit of an "artist" myself, I am so humbled by Kit's paintings.
His mastering of oils is incredible and every single one of his paintings is complex, interesting, surprising and compelling. Technique and substance, if that's not good art, I don't know what is! What I also love about his work is that Kit has a very "craft" way of approaching his pictures. He builds all of their magnificent wooden frames, and is also not too shabby at working with precious metal ( proof here).
Total respect.
Oh, and he lives on a farm in the English country side with his wife, doesn't care a bit about money and avoids the media as much as he can. How fabulous can you get?

Happy Monday!
xxx

Mini Prints!

2010-10-10T11:03:00.008+02:00

Let's build a fort! Mini Print

Love Somoene Today Mini Print

Hello hello!

I just added some new mini prints to the shop! These are half the size of my normal prints, so therefore half the price!
They look great in matted frames :)
I'm hoping to make many more mini prints soon in order to have a bit more variety in the shop and offer very affordable art prints.

Happy Sunday!

xxx

I'm back & new print!

2010-10-07T17:04:00.003+02:00

Storm in a Teacup

Hello hello hello!

How have you all been!
Well? Good :)
I've just come back from spending some time with my family in France. I took a lovely break from computers, the internet, and I must say my eyes feel like new!
Anyway now I'm here, I'm ready to get stuck in again: so here is my new print!
So many problems in life are but a storm in a teacup, don't you think? It's nice to remember this sometimes in order to have a little perspective and focus on the important/serious stuff.

While I was home, I did some gardening, made a composter from scratch with my brother, made organic fig and vanilla jam, played with my 14-year-old black Lab and got acquainted with my sewing machine. It was lovely...
I also watched some good tv and read some good books( I shall have to dedicate a post to these).

Oh and stay tuned because I feel a new GIVEAWAY coming this way shortly!

Happy Thursday lovelies!

xxx

Tea Party Inspiration

2010-09-08T17:53:00.006+02:00

Allegory of the Four Elements, Mark Ryden.

Mad Hatter Tea Party, John Tenniel.

I love Mark Ryden and John Tenniel's art/illustrations.
And now I want tea...and cake.

xxx

Custom pet portraits

2010-09-08T12:01:00.004+02:00

Custom Dog Portrait

Custom Cat Portrait

Hello and a happy Wednesday to all !

So... I am now offering custom pet portraits! This is something I have wanted to do for a while as I love drawing animals so much, but I just never got round to making a listing, so finally, yesterday I got stuck in.
I wanted a simple format too, nothing too fussy, realistic without being too photo-real etc. I like the two little guys I came up with. We will see how it goes :)
Yeah, still obsessed with sausage dogs... There are so many here in Zurich it's unreal!
Oh and next stop...custom people-portraits!

xxx

New Print

2010-09-06T17:49:00.002+02:00

Esme and the sloth

Hello lovelies!

How was your weekend?
I was super busy. One of my good friends came to visit so we had a good time walking around Zurich and enjoying the lovely September weather at the lake.
I've also been preoccupied with sending various copyright claim e-mails. Urgh, it's so tedious...why do people post/use your images without crediting you? Thankfully I've managed to sort most of it out.

Also, a new print is in my Etsy shop!
I've been working on more flappers, as I love them. I also adore sloths, so there you have it :)
You can find it here.
I shall try to get back in the swing of things and start posting regularly again from tonight or tomorrow too, and then at the end of the week, another friend is coming to stay! Crazyness :)

Happy Monday!

xxx

More Aprons (and another tote) !

2010-09-02T17:16:00.006+02:00

Hello hello!

My Envelop shop has been updated yet again! Sorry for bombarding you all with this, I know it must be incredibly boring, but I'm so excited about having my own textiles!!! I actually had 4 sales yesterday! So thrilled!
What next? T-shirts? ha!
Ok I still need to give you a proper post don't I.
These textile designs have been so much work, this is all I've been doing really.
I shall think of something, so stay tuned!
Happy Thursday!

x

More totes!

2010-09-01T11:17:00.004+02:00

Hello and a good Wednesday morning to you!
There are more totes available in my Envelop shop! It's so exciting to see my designs on textiles, I love it!

xxx

2010-08-31T18:15:00.007+02:00

Globetrotter luggage

Hello again :)

For our Tuesday vintage vibe I want to talk about vintage and retro-style luggage. What a way to travel! So glamourous and stylish.
Most vintage luggage that is still in good condition is also of remarkable quality, often sporting beautiful lining and inside fittings like nifty little pockets and hooks. Also, thrifting for a vintage suitcase is fun and eco-frienly, which is always good.
There are many lovely vintage cases on Etsy, so go have a cheeky look!
However, if you don't manage to find the vintage case of your dreams, or the lack of wheels is a no-no, there are companies out there that do Retro-repro luggage.
If you are incredibly flush, you could get yourself one of the beauties made by Globetrotter.
These are luxury cases that promise to provide real Golden Age glamour to your travels.
Wow, if only....

xxx

Printed Pretties Textiles

2010-08-31T13:57:00.007+02:00

Dear Sister Tote

Mint Choc Chip Rules pillow cover

Are you serious? Pillow cover

Lady Bow pillow cover

Retro Couple pillow cover

Hello!

I'm happy to announce that I have a line of textiles now selling at Envelop!

I'm busy designing more, but I'm very happy with these babies being available now :)

You can buy the above designs (amongst others) at my Envelop shop.

Yay!

xxx

2010-08-30T11:48:00.006+02:00

( roll mouse over to see items )

Hello hello!

It's Monday and I hope you all had a lovely rest this weekend. How are you? Ready for the new week? Great!
For Material girl today I rounded up a few things that are very a/w 2010-11, in other words very NOW. :)
I LOVE these trends. I feel they could have been made for me. Let me explain. This is what's groovy this Fall:

* The 50's, 60's and 70's ( I love)
* Taupe
* Khaki
* Shades of Camel ranging from Beige to Toffee
* Tan leather
* Moss green
* Retro prints (see #1)
* Shift dresses, feminine calf length circle skirts ( again see #1)
* Sophisticated Leopard
* Fur ( I only wear fake though)

So... First, I love vintage fashion, and this coming trend means that shops should be bursting with affordable retro repro styles. Very exciting. Second, I am a 5'9 über-pale Redhead, and the colors that are hot this season make my heart sing! They all suit me! And the retro styles, like wide leng pants and calf length skirts flatter my height! Yay! At long last!
Obviously, I'm more likely to get my Autumn staples from H&M than, say, Burberry or Bottega Veneta, but the eye candy proves to be inspirational.

Also, I am *super* excited about the new limited edition Chanel nail varnishes "Les Khakis".
I am a total nail freak, and these earthy, mossy tones are amazing to me. Chanel are releasing these new shades from September 10th online and in select stores. Which one to get though?

Happy Monday!

xxx

Entomology

2010-08-29T19:59:00.004+02:00

Scarab Jewelry by Bottega Veneta.

Hello again!

Is is just me or are insects everywhere this season? Especially "bug jewelry".

I actually adore Bottega Veneta's Scarab necklaces, so stunning. And scarab beetles were a lucky charm in Ancient Egyptian culture let's not forget!

xxx

How to "Upcycle" Crates

2010-08-29T15:54:00.003+02:00

via Apartment Therapy

Hello!

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely, relaxing Sunday.
So...wooden crates. Isn't crazy how some super creative people can take such an ordinary thing and make it useful, beautiful and cool?
I love all of these crate-shelves in the above pictures.
Plus, it's totally cheap, cheerful and eco, which is even better! All you need is some imagination, a pot of paint (or not) and a hammer!

x

Mad Men Joan Barbie

2010-08-29T00:56:00.001+02:00

Mad Men Haute Doll Magazine Mar/Apr 2010, originally uploaded by mawphoto.com.

How cool is this photo?
I actually think this the best Barbie doll *ever*

Happy Saturday!

Cycle Envy

2010-08-27T23:17:00.003+02:00

Hello dears!

Don't you find these cycles by Pashley just gorgeous?
They are handmade in the UK and cost a bomb, but my, they are beautiful. Now, put a little pug or sausage dog in the basket there, and you have my dream ride :)

(oh, and it's the Weekend already, yay!)

xxx

photos via Pashley

snazzy wallpaper love

2010-08-26T12:53:00.006+02:00

picture (c) lutterlagkage.

Hello lovelies!

Vintage wallpaper always makes a room fun and bright, doesn't it?
I love this bedroom.

x

2010-08-25T17:06:00.007+02:00

Hello again!

So for this "Wednesday Wonder" feature I want to dwell once more on the beauty of the styling in A Single Man, focusing on Charlotte's look and house.
I love love love her hair and makeup. So 60's chic and decadent. Her bedroom is also very oppulent and dramatic, with rich brocades and a fur chair (!), a beautiful gold gilded mirror and silk bedding. And I love those retro phones! So Pop!

Also, please forgive my sudden Polyvore obsession, but my, that thing is seriously fun and addictive!

x

A visual delight.

2010-08-25T15:01:00.013+02:00

(click to enlarge)

Hello hello!

How are you today? Good? Good :)

Today I leave you with some stills from a film I truly loved when I saw it at the cinema back in February. Actually, I cannot think of one good reason why I hadn't mentioned here before now, but there you have it...

Tom Ford's adaptation of A Single Man is a true aesthetic feast for the eyes. The set styling and clothes are especially breathtaking, and the filters they used on the camera gave the film real atmosphere. Oh, and what to say about Colin Firth's and Julianne Moore's performances? Absolutely divine. They were perfectly cast.

The story is truly heart-wrenching: it deals with lost love and ensuing soul-destroying sadness, and explores the regrets in the lives of these very chic, intellectual, middle-aged people of the 1960's.

I was actually surprised at how good it was... I had seen a few interviews of Tom Ford and he always came off as being totally obnoxious, so I thought there was a good chance the film was going to be quite pretentious and vacuous.
It most certainly isn't. Tom, you did good.
Also, I got immediatly obsessed with Charlotte (Julianne's character), especially her hair and her crazy Rococo bedroom and dressing table ( there might be another Polyvore set on the way, wink wink).
Oh and Colin Firth....was a beautiful, restrained, subtle, heart-breaking performance...amazing....
If you haven't seen it, and you are into good films and retro styling, run to the dvd store and hire it. You won't regret it!

Happy Wednesday!

xxx

picture source.

2010-08-24T10:35:00.011+02:00

1. Orange Smeg fridge (found here).

2. Crosley vintage-style pay-phone (found here).

3. Crosley vintage-style radio (found here).

4. Me wearing a retro-ish flower dress by New Look.

5. Art Deco style interior (found here).

6. My retro-inspired half-moon mani. :)

picture (c) myvintagevogue

Midcentury Modern Etsy Tresury

Hello lovelies!

I hope that Monday was kind to you , and that you are all enjoying the end of summer. So, on with our Tuesday feature! It's "Midcentury Chic" this week, let's pretend we are living Mad Men style...

First, I was naughty and reblogged one of my old collages. But I think it is relevant, so, I forgive myself :)

But on we go with some "new" stuff:

Those of you interested in retro fashion and lovely photography will adore the myvintagevogue Flickr group. There you can browse hundreds of vintage Vogue covers, basquing in the elegance of the lovely doe-eyed models and envying their wardrobe. I find these really inspirational!

I also made a Polyvore collage ( getting sick of these yet?) of 1950s&1960s style homewares for you to drool over :)

Finally, if you wish to inject a bit of 50s Glamour into your life check out my Etsy treasury for some vintage and retro repro finds!

Happy Tuesday!

xxx

2010-08-23T13:08:00.007+02:00

Hello hello!

It's Monday again, and I hope all of you have enjoyed your weekend and are having an excellent start to the week.
Today I have decided to daily features to my humble blog. The goal is to create some consistency as well as make me a bit more serious about my blogging habit. No more " I don't know what to write about excuses"!
However I really don't want this to stop me being spontaneous, so I shall still post random tid bits as well.

So, on Mondays, the feature shall be "Monday Material Girl". I shall post interactive collages (mostly made on Polyvore) of all things lucious and shiny that I like.

Here you have my fantasy Fall wardrobe. I kept this season's "Heritage" trend in mind, as well as my personal tastes, bien sûr :)
The sets are interactive and show you which products are what, and often how much they cost. Ludicrous amounts, usually, which is where the word "fantasy" comes in!
Anyhow, I though a bit of sartorial fun was in order, as I love fashion and read Vogue ( a pretty shallow indulgence, yes) and loads of the wonderful fashion-ey blogs out there.

Tomorrow, I shall debut "Tuesday Vintage Vibe"! Yay! Even though I don't know quite well yet what it will be about exactly...hmmmm...

xxx

A r t D e c o

2010-08-22T22:13:00.005+02:00

Vintage Flapper

Hello again lovelies !

I watched two Hercule Poirot episodes this afternoon ( with David Suchet, the best on screen Poirot of all times) and was inspired to knock together a little Deco set on Polyvore.
I love Agatha Christie, and I LOVE everything Art deco and 1920's... enjoy :)

xxx

Giveaway Winner

2010-08-22T13:20:00.003+02:00

Hello my dears!

First of all, sorry for not posting this yesterday. I got distracted and went to see Inception at the cinema ( I really liked it by the way, even if it is a tad derivative sometimes) and completely forgot.

Second, I now understand why so many Giveaway organisers opt for the Random Number Genarator solution... It was SO hard choosing the winner. So much so that I was tempted to pull the answer out of a hat, but that would have been cheating as I said I would choose.
So I read all the comments three times, went for a walk, and waited to see which ones "stayed" with me.

And so, the winner is : EVIHAN
Congrats!!!

I really liked that you felt such a personal connection to my Shared Whisper print.
I, too, was incredibly close to my grandmother, so your comment really pulled at my heart strings :)
Send me an email at printedpretties(at)gmail.com with your address and the print shall be sent to you next week!

To everyone that took part: THANK YOU so much. I really enjoyed reading all of your comments and it was really quite horrible having to choose just one.
I shall have other giveaways soon, so don't despair!

Happy Sunday!

x

C o p e n h a g e n

2010-08-18T17:31:00.014+02:00

Hello hello!

Whew, these babies took a while to upload, but here you have it, a few snapshots of 3 days spent in Copenhagen. As you can see, we weren't blessed with the best weather, but it was still really fun. I had been dying to go to Scandinavia ( being a massive scando-design nerd) but still didn't know what to expect, and I found it to be a really surprising place.

For one thing, those people are freakishly beautiful. All of them. And I have never seen so many natural baby blondes in one place. And they still tan!!! How can you be that fair and tan like that!!! But I digress...

Copenhagen had a really nice vibe about it, and there is some great shopping to be done people. It was fashion week when we were there, so we kept seeing gaggles of models in the street still sporting their show makeup and hair. I hate to admit I even recognised some of the girls from Fashion tv! And the place was swamped.

Also, we walked for an hour up the Harbour to see the Little Mermaid statue, only to be met with a crappy sign saying she had been sent to Shangai for the worl expo. Gutted!!! I was so sad about that...next time!

The architecture is also sweet, not as breathtaking as it is in, say, Prague (most beautiful city ever along with Venice) but beautiful in a more understated way, if that makes sense.

But wow, it's expensisve. I knew this before going, but as I live in Zurich, I thought that surely, it wouldn't be worse than it is here. It is. The restaurants especially. One tip, do not order wine in Scandinavia, it will double your bill. Ha!

I shall have to post some pics of Göteborg (in Sweden) next time.

Happy Thursday!

xxx

***********************************************************************

Don't forget my GIVEAWAY!!! Win one of my prints!

***********************************************************************

Fjallraven backpacks

2010-08-17T17:59:00.006+02:00

Hello darlings!

A little "I-want-one-of-those-now-please" posts for now while I make you wait for my pics from Sweden and Denmark :)
Even before trecking up to Sweden I had always loved the retro feel of Fjallraven bags. I was hopping to pick one up "cheap" whilst on my trip, but unfortunately, as I soon found out, there is no such thing as cheap in Scandinavia. I bet I could pick one up here or on Ebay for less!
I really like the choice of colours, the yellow, russet and navy bags being my favs, although a red one would also please me :)
One day, my friends, one day!

****************************************************************************

Also, don't forget my GIVEAWAY!!!

****************************************************************************

pictures via weheartit

Win a print !!!!

2010-08-16T17:03:00.005+02:00

Hello lovelies!!!
I am back from my trip to Scandinavia (shall post some pics soon) and trying to get back into the swing of things here in Zurich.
So I thought, why not organise a little Giveaway!

For a chance to win a print of your choosing from my shop follow these 2 steps:

* Follow my blog ( click Follow in the sidebar =>)
* Comment below stating which print you would like to win and why.

The Giveaway shall be open until Friday, August 20th included. I will choose my favourite comment and announce the winner on Saturday.

Happy Monday!

xxx

A bit of vintage B.B

2010-08-05T17:10:00.004+02:00

I love Brigitte Bardot's look in the 60's and 70's.

In other news, I've had a hectic past few weeks, which explains the radio silence here.

I had a lovely trip to Prague (most beautiful place ever) and then had my brother visit, then one of my best friends from uni, and I'm off to Sweden and Denmark on Sunday! I am so excited, I've always wanted to go to Scandinavia :)

Also I'm still working on some new textile designs, so fingers crossed, this should come together soon!

xxx

pics via google

A little preview....

2010-07-20T20:06:00.005+02:00

I'm excited to announce that textile goodies are coming soon!!!
I'm working on many more designs, so stay tuned :)

xxx

Song of the moment

2010-07-19T13:34:00.001+02:00

Just discovered this song and I'm a bit obsessed....

Talent: Elle Moss Photography

2010-07-16T13:01:00.007+02:00

Magnify, Elle Moss Photography.

You've gotta have a heart.

Undress.

For a lark.

Before the storm.

Elle also sells Photshop actions.

Super sweet Etsy Treasury by Elle.

Elle Moss Photo-Jewelry, Ladybird Locket.

Don't you love the quirky snapshots of Elle Moss Photography?

The lovely Lisa creates beautiful atmospheric pictures, some innocent and sweet, some ambiguous and slightly spooky.

I love the way she uses the light, and adore all the rich textures and tonal colours of her photos.

Visit her blog here and her Etsy shop here.

xxx

cool idea

2010-07-16T11:43:00.002+02:00

Jan Vormann's "Dispatchwork" Lego wall grafiti.

Vintage beauties

2010-07-14T17:08:00.002+02:00

ahhhhhhhhhh.... so lovely...

(pictures via weheartit)

love her.

2010-07-09T17:07:00.005+02:00

I don't remember where I first read this quote, but I love it.
It's crazy that Marilyn was insecure and so unhappy in the end. The more you learn about her, the more you realise how vulnerable, intelligent and sensitive she was. So human. She was wasted on most people who gravitated around her.
It's a shame most will assume she was the prime example of the dumb blonde. Actually, she owned a very big collection of books, and read poetry and philosophy .

I find her enchanting.

(photo-quote montage:me ; photo credit: unknown, if someone knows, give me a bell!)

Talent: Darling Tonia Mocassin co.

2010-07-07T18:09:00.006+02:00

"I go by Katie" is a blog I recently discovered when the lovely Katie featured a bunch of my prints. Not only is the blog awesome, I love Katie's work, especially her beautiful handmade mocassins.
She runs Darling Tonia mocassins, a small business specialising in soft soled suede leather shoes.
Aren't they gorgeous? I also love the fact that Katie stiches them up on an old Singer machine :)
And beyond that , Katie is also a talented photographer.
Check out her portfolio here.

Happy Wednesday!

xxx

(Picture credits: Katie Kukulka)

The Pre-Raphaelites

2010-05-07T11:06:00.014+02:00

My Sweet Rose, John William Waterhouse.

A Mermaid, John William Waterhouse, 1901.

Ophelia, Sir John Everett Millais, 1851.

A Naiad, John William Waterhouse, 1893.

Miranda, The Tempest, John William Waterhouse.

La Ghirlandata, Dante Gabriel Rosetti.

The Bower Meadow, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, 1872.

The Shrine, John William Waterhouse.

Hello!

Today, I wish to share my love for Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood with the good people of Blogworld.
I don't know if I've mentioned before, but I graduated with an MA in Art History, and feel I have a pretty broad interest in Art in general, but I must confess a particular soft patch for the PRB (the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood).
During my studies, I remarked on many occasions how underrated Pre-Raphaelism really was. Most academics are not very interested in this movement, and the works of the PRB are often regarded as somewhat indulgent, a little too decorative and all in all not *that* worthy of time.
I, for one, couldn't dissagree more. I love love love the Pre-Raphaelites. Always have, always will. So there, academia.

For those of you who care, a little more info:

The PRB was founded in 1849 by a bunch of young, impetuous, avant-garde artists. These fine fellows were William Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, and John Everett Millais ,to name but a few. They fiercely believed that Art was dying a slow, boring death, and that the field of painting in particular needed to be revitalised. They took it upon them to test all the artistic conventions of their times, in particular defying the teachings of the prestigious Royal Academy, which they felt slavishly followed the dusty classisising style of Raphael.
By calling themselves the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, these young artists stated their distaste for contemporary convention. Their aesthetic was to be heavily influenced by medieval folk tales as well as the vibrancy of mediaval devotional art, a time *before* Raphael.
The PRB was also preoccupied with depicting everything with the same care: even the most humble of subject-matters was to be painted with almost photographic precision and detail. They combined this fierce realism with typological symbolism, thus producing works of incredible beauty of almost magical significance, infused with references to classic legends or contemporary poetry. And many subjects for their works were indeed taken from the writtings of Shakespeare, Tennyson and Keats. Finally, they believed that Art shouldn't be sectioned off in pieces, and therefore encouraged each other to practice diverse art forms at the same time: writting poetry for the painters and painting for the poets. Dante Gabriel Rosetti in particular wrote some beautiful poems.

The paintings above are a few of my personnal favourites but there are so many more.... The PRB also led to the birth of the wonderful Arts and Crafts movement, that i simply adore... I will have to post about that another time!!!
What do you think of the PRB? Love it? Hate it?
I hope I haven't scared too many people with my sudden fit of Art nerdiness!

Happy Friday!

xxx

(image source)

wow...

2010-05-05T12:45:00.004+02:00

(picture credit Holly for decor8)

Holly from decor8 featured my Cloud Sister print in her weekly column "Etsy TakeFive Tuesday"...My life is now complete...

xxx

Little worlds

2010-04-30T17:27:00.005+02:00

I'm really into planting at the moment. It's spring and all I want to do is transform my balcony into a forest of herbs, flowers and vegetables, plant seeds, watch them grow...harvest the crop! I love the terrariums and I seriously want to make a few of my own to keep inside of my apartment.

Don't you just adore these little glass botanical worlds? What about the tiny light bulb one? Too sweet....

xxx

(all pictures via weheartit)

decor8 your world

2010-04-09T13:08:00.005+02:00

Those of you most active in the blogosphere will already know and love the wonderful decor8 blog.
I certainly do. I tune in almost everyday and get so inspired.
The pictures are wonderful, Holly's writting style is inviting and unpretentious and, well, it just makes me happy.
If you happen to be a decor8 virgin, please please please pop that cherry and pay Holly a visit here. If you have any interest at all in interior design (or simply all things beautiful) you will not be disappointed.
And to make things even better, Holly recently started a second blog, hausmaus, which touches upon her experiences a a new expat in Germany. As an expat myself here in Switzerland, I love Hausmaus, and can relate to her posts a whole lot.

Thank you Holly for inspiring me daily!

Happy Friday everyone :)

x

(photo credit: Holly for decor8)

I heart it

2010-04-06T16:57:00.000+02:00

fairy tale bedroom

stary nights

mini pigs

Marilyn

romantic bikes

astronomy pictures

red hair

pink retro kitchens

novelty icecream lamp

biker boots

(all images via Weheartit)

Fair Isle Love

2010-02-10T15:46:00.002+01:00

<3 loves <3

Happy Wednesday!

xxx

Hi all!

2010-02-08T13:53:00.004+01:00

The Shared Whisper

Feather Talk

Hello everyone!
Happy New Year! I know it's late for that, but I haven't been on here for soooo long I had to say it !
I hope you've all had a wonderful start to the new decade.

For me, so far, so good. I had my birthday last week, which was very fun as an old friend came to visit and along with my bf we went sledging in the snowey Swiss mountains and had lots of delicious veggie food ( and of course pressies were good also!)
In other news, here are two new prints I've been working on, available in the shop.

Happy Monday!

xxx

Xmas mood

2009-12-08T17:29:00.004+01:00

( pictures via Martha Stewart)

Wow, I LOOOOOVE that pink tree!

xxx

Albino pug

2009-12-07T12:00:00.005+01:00

....How adorable is this little guy??? Oh I really want my own pug friend!

The Christmas season is in full swing here in Zurich, with markets, carol singing, beautiful fairy lights and adorned trees, and crazy saturday shopping crowds. Thankfully I have been super organized and my present shopping is almost done. Yay!

I am busy making Xmas decorations and creating new illustrations, and I am so looking forward to going home to France for the Holidays!

xxx

first pumpkin pie

2009-11-27T14:50:00.007+01:00

Hello!

I hope all you Americans out there had a great Thanksgiving!

I've always been quite fascinated by this holiday, as it is mentioned on many of the blogs I read and appears on all the american T.V shows I watch ( Friends, How I met your mother, etc) and the food always looks so tempting and scrumptious!

Well this year I wanted to try my hand at one of the classic Thanksgiving recipes, the pumpkin pie!

It turned out completely delicious...Needless to say I shall make it again.

I googled a few recipes and found a variety of techniques out there, so I kind of tailored the making of the pie to my tastes (and to what I had in the fridge!)

Here is my version :)

You will need:

500g piece of pumpkin

3 eggs

400g of sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp of ground Cardamom

1 tbs of ground Cinnamon

1 tsb of ground cloves

1 tbs of ground ginger

2 tps of pain d'epices spice ( an all spice mix popular in Germany and here in Switzerland)

Pinch of salt.

Shortcrust pastry ( mine was shop bought)

Preheat the Oven at 220 C.

First, cut the pumpkin up in small pieces and boil until tender. Drain the pieces off, getting rid of as much water as you can. Place the pumpkin in a bowl and mash it up with a fork until smooth. Add the eggs, stir to incorporate. Add the sweetened condensed milk. Add the spices.

At this point I transfered the mixture to my blender to make sure the spices and sweetness was even throughout and to give the mixture a nice smooth texture.

Roll out your pastry and place in a buttered pie dish. Pour the pumpkin mix into the pie dish.

Voila!

Now carefully place the pie in the oven. After 15 minutes turn the temperature down from 220 to 180 C and bake for a further 30 to 40 minutes depending on your oven.

Check the pie by inserting a knife in the center of the pie. If the knife comes out clean, the pie is ready!

Let the pie cool completely and enjoy at room temperature with some whipped cream.

Store left over pie in the fridge.

(pictures by me)

xxx

Cute induced coma

2009-11-27T14:00:00.002+01:00

A commission

2009-11-12T14:26:00.004+01:00

This is the commission I have been working on lately. It is for a lovely lady who has a gorgeous old english sheepdog and wanted a portrait of the two of them.

I am really having fun experimenting with abstract and Pop backgrounds for my pictures at the moment, I really like this particular effect here.

xxx

Matthew Williamson Fall/Winter 09/10

2009-11-12T12:14:00.007+01:00

Matthew Williamson Fall/Winter Collection

( images via Catwalk Queen)

Oh how I love this collection! I was so sad when one of my favorite designers, Christian Lacroix, went out of business, but since I have found that Matthew Williamson may be the new master of mixing textures and patterns to perfection.

I don't know whether the furs were real ( and I am hoping they were not), but otherwise I love these looks. Funky, strong, eccentric and feminine at the same time.

My favorite is probably the third picture: that sweater dress with the matching cardi and blue fur collar....ahhhhh....

xxx

puppy love

2009-11-04T19:52:00.005+01:00

Hi guys!

This print will be part of the next shop update! More doggies to come too!

In other news, all is good here, lots of rain, lots of wintery dishes to make and eat .... I'm getting slightly freaked out at how quickly Christmas is coming! Although I must confess I have started listening to some good xmas music, excited! This year flew by though, it's crazy.

xxx

Crochet Bunny

2009-10-29T21:22:00.003+01:00

Hello! This is my first crochet project! I've been meaning to learn crochet for a while, and now I can say I know how to single-crochet at least! Thanks, Youtube tutorials!

I made up a pattern for this bunny, as I wanted him to be quite large, and to look a bit vintage.

It was really fun to make him, and the progress rate is incredible! It took me hours to do the head, which is the first part I did, but by the time I was doing the feet, it took a matter of minutes... As soon as I get more yarn I shall be cranking out some more!

Oh and I'm also working on a new blog layout, so yeah it might look a bit weird and in-between-y here for a few days still!

xxx

Big Red

2009-10-23T15:45:00.005+02:00

Hi!

Last night, I went to a late night opening at the Design Museum here in rainy Zurich. The temporary exibition is a collection of Michel Comte most famous photographs, including the infamous nude Carla Bruni ( or should I say Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, ...)shot, which made me chuckle, as apparently she is totally appalled it's still being shown. I mean, she was there, when the pic was taken, right? Anyhow, I digress....

Comte is native to Zurich, and has come to specialize in fashion and celebrity photography, so it was interesting to see this collection of works... A few were rather contrived ( nude women frolicking together in bath-tubs or fields), and a few were quite beautiful or funny ( the Sylvester Stallone portrait is hilarious...)

The part I found very interesting was the area dedicated to the pictures of the Lancome Miracle campaign with Uma Thurman. There was this video booth that demonstrated all the photoshop work that was done on the pics to get them magazine-ready... really fascinating to see how much they retouched this already stunning woman to make her perfect (her arms and torso were reshaped, her eyes made bigger, her whole head made bigger, wrinkles and pores airbrushed, shadowing redone, hair reshaped etc etc).

Whilst I was aware everything you see in you favorite mag is indeed fiddled with, I had no idea to what extent. Eye-opener, I tell you.

For the occasion I wore red lippy, which I totally enjoyed! It's funny how something as little as bright lipstick can make you feel nice .

ALSO

I need to thank the lovely Caitlin for awarding me my first ever blog award! Yay! Her blog, The August one, is awesome, and she is hilarious, so go check it out.

1. Thank the person who nominated me for this award

2. Copy the award and place it on my blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated me for this award

4. Tell us 7 interesting things about yourself

5. Nominate 7 Bloggers

6. Post links to the 7 blogs I nominate.

So here goes, 7 (mildly) interesting things about me:

1. I am a natural redhead, and although I am now "true-to-the-hue", in the past I have colored my hair baby blonde, chocolate brown and bright orange.

2. I am bilingual basically by birth as my dad is French and my mum is English.

3. I went to the same university as Prince William.

4. Michael Douglas and Danny Devito held me in their arms when I was an infant, as my parents went to check out one of their film sets when I was about 8 months old.

5. I am absolutely potty about pets, dogs and rabbits especially.

6. I cook and eat vegetarian food every day.

7. I believe in Karma.

I nominate:

xxx