Sun wind clouds

Dominique Falla - Meet Me In The Sunshine

After a week of Spring we had a return of snow on the hill, freezing nights and blasting gales. Then they said we'd have a nice sunny weekend. It peeked out occasionally but was motly grey so I thought posting this cheery piece of embroidery thread art by Dominique Falla will encourage the sun to come back. Not that I don't like clouds, some clouds are great, especially when you can make them inside a room like this art installation by Berndnaut Smilde.



Innova - Xuan bamboo lamp

Where my head's at...

Kwon Seulgi - Untitled - Brooch - 2011
silicone, pigment, plastic, thread, wood, stainless steel


Kwon Seulgi - Untitled - Brooch - 2011
silicone, pigment sterling silver, thread, stone, glass bead, stainless steel


Kwon Seulgi - Cell 10 Brooch - Oct 2009
silicone, pigment, plastic, stainless steel



Chanel Spring 2012 Under the Sea


Studio Bertjan Pot - Cluster Light 2009


Ernesto Neto - "Simple and light as a dream...the gravity don’t lie...just loves the time" 2006
Installation view fromTanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York
Photo: Fabian Birgfeld, photoTECTONICS.
Courtesy of the artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York (Via Moment/C)

The Bloomberg Pavillion

I've been having the kind of week that you normally only see on movies. A chance to change something from their past which would completely alter my life. I've stuck with the decision I made so many years ago but it hasn't stopped my thoughts and emotions being turned upside down and inside out. Everything in my life that seemed fixed suddenly has other options and it's almost impossible not to think of all the possibilities that could have unfolded. My poor wee brain feels thoroughly fragmented as it churns over all the possible ways things could have gone.

What better day to send out one of my draft posts from last year of the Bloomberg Pavillion with it's multi-faceted structure. That's what my brain is like this week, a solid base with all manner of wildness spilling out the top and looking different depending on where you approach it and the time of day.





'bloomberg pavilion' by akihisa hirata architecture office, tokyo, japan. photo © takumi ota
images courtesy of akihisa hirata architecture office + museum of contemporary art tokyo
found via Designboom

Ulrika Kestere, Hair, Blue Clothes

Ulrika Kestere - Winter horse poster €22 here

Ulrika Kestere - Ice Princess

I was originally directed towards the top photograph by Ulrika Kestere by someone saying she had a similar wardrobe to me. I thought they meant furniture wardrobe but clearly they meant likes to wear lots of different blues with a touch of red. The clothes are nice but it's the photo itself I like most. It is part of a series called "Girl with 7 horses" and she has made this one available to buy as a print here. You can see more of her photographs on her blog Ulicam. I liked the wintery one because I collect blue dresses and have long wanted to photograph them in snow, but it's always been too wet, too cold or too windy. She is tougher than I am.

I was looking at old photos this week and found one of me as a kid on the banks of the Mississippi River wearing blue with a touch of red (loved my bandanna) in 1984 when our parents bundled us all into a Camper Van and spent the Summer driving from LA to New York (having been living in LA 2yrs but returning to live in Scotland). I didn't realise I was doing non traditional hair buns in '84, I thought I didn't bun my hair until college in '89. Ulrika has an animated gif of braided hair that reminds me of why I put up with my really long but infuriatingly prone to tangling hair for so long. I loved playing with it, so many ways to express my mood. But when you have ME every bit of energy is precious and it's pointless wasting it on a daily battle with tuggy hair (you can see the tugs beginning to form a blur in centre of the bottom photo). Last January I chopped nearly all of it off and last month I did it again. But it's nice to find photo's of it long.


Me with my Brother. Watching Mississippi paddle steamer 1984

Me at Big Bear Lake, California 2008

Etsy finds in Greys Blues Yellows

Okapi - Silvergrey Neckpeice


idea2lifestyle - Moon Water Skirt Pants (very very tempted to buy these)


Lacasadecoto - Pouf Crochet Aqua


MaLieb - Leap of the Heart


CoMod - Herman Miller Eames Fiberglass Side Chair Rocker


Uzura - Hemp Bag with Organic Cotton Lining



Kelansartcouture - top piece, bottom piece.


MadebyCassandraSmith - Yellow, Blue and Seafoam Painted Antler


Adatine - Rabbit Diet Brooch


SuiteOneStudio - Porcelain Bowls

I've been really wiped out recently, partly the M.E. but also a bit of a cold that doesn't escalate, but refuses to leave. So what's a girl to do but immerse herself in Etsy. I looked at lots of things but these ones reflect today's colours, greys and pale blues with moments of brighter blue and yellow when the sun peaked through the cold February sky.


Thaitee - Lady Jane Dress


UpInTheAirSomewhere - Aqua Paper Bowl


Nellianna - Chestnut Origami Paper Lampshades

Susanna Bauer - Leaves

Susanna Bauer - Leaves

These remind me of the delight I felt the first time I saw an Andy Goldsworthy leaf sculpture at the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. I've had a love for this type of work ever since and Susanna has a new take on them that I'm really enjoying.

Photographer Emmanuel Coupé

Emmanuel Coupé - Elgol, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo SC9376


Emmanuel Coupé - Lochan Urr, Glen Etive, Glencoe, Highlands, Scotland. SC9887


Emmanuel Coupé - Loch Tulla, Glencoe, Highlands, Scotland. Photo SC1077

It's been too long since I went camping in North/North West of Scotland so I thought I'd take a virtual tour courtesy of the wonderful photography of Emmanuel Coupé. His photographs from Scotland, and around the world make me long to travel, but also help satisfy my urge. They are available to buy as Archival quality prints.


Emmanuel Coupé - Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo SC8633


Emmanuel Coupé - Elgol, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo SC5306

Myung Urso

Myung Urso - Brooch: Dialogue - 2011 (via Klimt02)
Natural dyed silk, thread, sterling silver, lacquer


Myung Urso - Neckpiece: Gray Scape 2011 (via Klimt02)
Natural dyed silk, thread, sterling silver


Myung Urso - Brooch: Hometown 2011 (via Klimt02)
Natural dyed silk, thread, sterling silver, lacquer

Great pieces, I always like when you can see the hand of the maker in the construction, and white/grey/red is always a colour combo I love.

More Winter Colours

Indoor Hyacinth is more vivid than than outdoor plants in January

This was about 2 weeks ago, still in flower but determined to fall over at every opportunity. I usually grow them in soil and can pop a skewer in as support, not very attractive with a hyacinth vase. Out in the garden the pinks are paler, which fits well with the grey greens and frosted leaves.


Clematis stems with their own brand of winter beauty

Hydrangea Petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea) has straddled the shed roof.

Clematis 'Markham's Pink' seed head

Osteospermum (perennial)

Frosty Hebe, the one I posted the frosty close-up of the other day.

I intended to do a big post of art that looked liked winter gardens but I need to sleep, here are two, hopefully I'll have time for more later in the week but family are in town so I may not blog much.

The work of paper artist Peter Gentenaar looking like a winter flower.

Paperstring chandelier by Nithikul Nimkulrat.