Hooray!

I'm doing a wedding this weekend and I can't wait. Even though it's hard work and I'm on the sidelines, I just love bringing these happy days to life. My favourite bit is watching on as it all comes together and people kick up their heels!

I hope you have a smashing weekend too, dear friends x

Fabulous dancing man photo from here ...

Propped Up ...

J'adore art propped up against a wall... even better on this scrubby old floor.

Art is much better when it is casual and less proper, I think.

Here

Window ...

From my little loft I've got a view of offices at one end and someone's town house at the other...
But I don't really mind because the windows themselves are lovely.

I love the windows in these photos ... simple, unadorned panes ... although you probably wouldn't refer to that last set as a simple window - how fab?

All shots found over at my new favourite Tumblr, Falling Star

Play ...

This is fabulous.

Speaking of pirates, someone once dressed up as a pirate for a costume party from items in my everyday wardrobe... what does that say about me!?!

Hehe.

Chapel ...

I'm so excited to finally find some photos of the extraordinary residence of artist and craftsman Nick Kenny, located in the picturesque and historic town of Faversham on the Kent coast ...

I've had the ripped out pages in my 'beautiful house folder' for about a year trying to get my scanner to work - sad, I know!

I just love everything about it, especially that utilitarian bathroom ...

Photos found here ...

Swim ...

Hot weekend scheduled for SA ...
I will certianly have to evacuate the loft (insulation is at a minimum) so I think I'll take Mr H for a swim.
Oh, how he'll love me!

Happy weekend, dear friends x

Photo found over at Bathwater Tumblr

Salambao ...

I'm super excited to share the happy news that one of my great friends Sal has started a gorgeous blog...
Salambao

In her words you can expect to find her sharing a love of
"J Crew, cake for breakfast, seaside adventures and all things nautical".

Sounds fabulous, don't you think?
Head on over for a look ASAP people! You know you want to!

Moo ...

I adore these beautifully clear and calm photos of Xhosa cattle on an Eastern Cape beach ...
And how about the backdrop?
Perfect pale sand, green mountains and cloudy blue sky atop the grey rolling waves ...

I don't know how the photographer got them so stand still but it is a worthy effort.

Daniel Naude, discovered via my favourite magazine ever in the universe, South African House and Leisure

Little Houses ...

Stunning Christmas styling by Walther & Co, Denmark...

I love how they've left that grate in the front of the shot - it would have been so tempting to photoshop that out but oh how lovely it is that they left it in...

Bricks ...

I'm in complete and utter love with every element of this fabulous Stockholm loft space belonging to interior Martine Colliander of White Sense ...

The whole concept is flawless but I'm mainly obsessed with the brick floor - who gets a brick floor these days? Heaven...

Violet ...

Dreaming of a holiday ...

First stop on this mythical venture would be London, of course - Immediately upon landing I'd make a scurrying rush to this pretty little cake shop in Hackney for a cupcake with Luce xx

Art School Prep ...

On the weekend we threw a little lunch to welcome Kim back from overseas... it was so lovely to get everyone together again and of course I love any chance to do a drop of decorating... yay!

Sally, Pip, Kim and Kate are the best cooks in the universe so I put up my hand to set the table instead (can't compete in the kitchen!) ... of course I let my mind wander in the week leading up to it and dreamed up the styling plan "Art School Prep'

I'm sure the girls were a bit confused and Kate confessed that she was expecting paint brushes and easels ... but I had it all sorted in my head wanted to make it very 'Kim'. I was going for pretty and classic but not too obvious ...

I had the most scrumptious time on Friday night painting a huge piece of salvaged art paper with many shades of pink in a watercolour wash... nothing like moving the furniture out of the way and standing above it like Pro Hart throwing paint around (this was the art school bit)

PS - never do this in red as it would look like someone has had a nasty haemorrhage ... not great for the appetite...

Teamed with Sal's gorgeous striped napkins (prep bit) the whole thing came together beautifully, if I do say so myself.

4 low vases of sweet peas, carnations in 2 shades of pink and some gorgeous ranunculi finished it all off ... can't get enough of a trip to the flower market on a frosty morning - any excuse to pop in.

I'll let Kate blog about the food as she is the expert in this department but I can vouch that we all thought it was delicious and wolfed it down...

Watermelon and feta salad was my favourite of the day... yum yum.

Pop over to Kate's place for further shots... and she may even share some recipes xxx

Photos by me and Kate