flowers for friday

 the peonies are gorgeous at the moment - voluptuous and the layers and layers of petals remind me of delicate downy feathers. i couldnt resist these pale creamy pink peonies paired with clippings from the lemon tree in the back yard. this is my last post from this apartment - ill be back on monday from the new place. 
happy weekends everyone - 

Bett Norris Illustration

rather liking these quirky collages of imagery by uk base illustrator Bett Norris -representing three talented women: edith piaf, sylvia plath & frida kahlo. sweetly drawn but with a darker focused. the drawings conjure each woman but are strangely personal to the artist.  i especially love the piaf - the longer i look at them the more captivated i find myself 

summer staples

there is something about moving that makes me want to start from bare bones, from the core of my personal style- 

packing up my house has me thinking hard about the cycle of acquiring. generally i feel a bit anxious when surrounded by too many things, i think thats why im so attracted to the modern scandinavian farmhouse aesthetic. it always feels edited, but not out of severity, out of necessity. I also strive very hard to edit the vintage merchandise at cottage farm with this idea in mind. I want all of the items to be beautiful of course but also functional. i believe that utility and function create the most beautiful objects over time and much of the romance is being a link in this cycle.
while going through my closet however, i realized how unsuccessful i have been at restraining my urge to acquire and how i have failed to excercise the same level of restraint i am able to acheive in my home. i have come to understand that in decorating i appreciate many many things in many styles, but i often appreciate them in the moment only. clothing on the other hand catches me up- the idea of the event to which it will be worn or the manner in which it can be adorned...this makes for a messy edit and some very wacky pieces in my closet. but  while packing i made my self places everything into three piles - always, sometimes, never. 
this post represents my summer always pile. i quite like it! its feels simple and easy but still very beautiful. full of possibility for the everyday - of course i kept a few bits of the unexpected! like this amazing dress, but these basics are a very pretty starting place. 
do you have go-to basics you love?

1 anna allen clothing (via frolic). 2 frye. 3 miriam haskell. 4 infusion. 5 alexis bittar. 6 lamixx. 7 vans. 8 coterie. 9 net-a-porter. 10 jcrew. 11 seychelles. 12 merona for target.

happy birthday to my mom

my mom is one of the most important people in my life. she is a beautiful, immensely talented person and a pillar of support. i wish i could be there to help her celebrate but im sending lots of love and wishes from the left cost to her today. 
shes the cute little nugget on the right and thats my aunt on the far left. 
i love you mom & happy birthday.

romi ceramics

im loving the bold geometric shapes and strong colors of these dynamic little pots at romi ceramics the yellow and marine colors are just a bit unexpected but they look tremendous as a group - on their own or filled with little blooms.

 of course the black and white pots are a favorite, but how can you go wrong with that?

and im charmed by these rather animated salt&pepper shakers. do take a peek over at this lovely shop.