Shark & James.

These are 2 of my best friends. They are hilarious. The two of them will dress up at the drop of a hat. This is a case in point. The rest of us were lolling about reading, snoozing and drinking beer - these two were crawling up cliffs, wearing animal masks and getting up to general tomfoolery. I took these! I didn't chop off their heads!

Rose Garden.

This is from the Rose Garden (at the Huntington)- Jimmy made the pertinent observation that it looks like something out of Willy Wonka!

Desert Garden.

Here are some of my photos from the Desert Garden at the Huntington which I mentioned visiting a couple of weeks back. I got these back yesterday from the developers and I just love 'em.  I kind of like that I obviously have no idea of the parameters of my view finder! It adds an element of surprise when I get the film back - although I've decided that maybe people aren't the best subjects as I keep cutting off heads. The lovely Antonia came to the Huntington too and pointed out that the succulents can look like underwater plants - I concur.

Tulips From Above.

I've been obsessing about the quilts of Gee's Bend for a while and Grant sent me this photo because it reminded him of them. It's a photo of tulips from above. I like the purple and yellow stripes at the top.

Princeton Architectural Press

Princeton Architectural Press is one of my favourite publishers and their new Fall 09 catalogue arrived today. It's gorgeous. I can't wait to order some new books. Catalogue time is a bit like Christmas.

Jacaranda!

It's Jacaranda time in LA. One of my favourite times of the year. Although I had a horrible boss once called Jack so I prefer to call them Jimerandas (Jack-The-Boss often "forgot" to pay me and then fired me when I got a nasty dose of strep throat.). If you fly into LA this time of year and look down there are an abundance of lilac spots - all the jimerandas. I have planted one in my back-yard but apparently they take a few years to flower. All I've been getting is large, crusty brown pod-thingies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for flowers next year.

I looked them up on the interweb and it says they are native to Central and South America, the Caribbean and Mexico. I guess we're pretty much classified as Mexico here. In Zimbabwe they are a welcome sign of Spring!

A Year In Japan.

A Year In Japan by Kate T. Williamson
$19.95

I would like to go to Japan. I had a conversation with my best friend's Mum this weekend about why Asian people are just so much cooler than every one else. She (the Mum - who is Chinese) decided I could still call her Mom on Mother's Day even though I'm not Asian. I think she just felt sorry for me and my boring whiteness.

Fashion A to Z: An Illustrated Dictionary

Fashion A to Z: An Illustrated Dictionary
$30

Just out and just in!

From the top:
Swimming trunks
Poncho
Oxford
Jumper

I like the definition of jumper:

"(1) A US term for a sleeveless dress worn by women and children, more fully called a "jumper dress", and made in various different styles. (2) A British term for a pullover sweater. (3) A 19th c. term for a loose-fitting, hip-length jacket, often featuring a hood and worn by sailors."

As anyone who knows me will confirm, I love a good hoody. The last definition of jumper sounds wonderful and I would like one.

Like I Give A Frock.

Like I Give A Frock
$18.95

Terrarium!!

We ordered some terrariums for the store - but empty and on the table they just look like ugly, oddly shaped vases. I decided to do one as a functioning terrarium to see if they grabbed anyone's fancy once the purpose had been pointed out. I made a succulent terrarium (which is an odd thing to type, ha!) and here it is in all it's glory. I had such fun making it - it wasn't hard at all - apart from installing the really prickly one. I spent 15 minutes with the tweezers afterwards. I might get one and do one for my house. I'm not really sure how often I should water it - I'll keep a beady eye on the plants and if they look droopy, I'l spritz them.

Fashion Makers.

Fashion Makers by Barbra Walz/Bernadine Morris
$30

From the top:
Edith Head
Rudi Gernreich
Bill Blass
John Antony
Adolfo


This book has the best photography styling ever and I only posted a fraction of them. The book also contains Oscar de la Renta in his swimming trunks, Mr. John with a giant parrot and Giorgio Sant'Angelo sprawled semi-naked on a white l-shaped sectional with a large vase of chrysanthemums protecting his modesty.

Check out the incredible hairiness of John Anthony's arms. Wow!

Natural Garden Style.

Natural Garden Style
$49.95

I like to post about gardens. I love gardens. I went to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena at the weekend with my Mum - they are TOTALLY insane. The desert garden is a surreal Dr Seuss-like environment that makes no sense to my English-born-eyes. I took a bunch of photos with Diana and am v.v. excited to get them developed. I'll post the results. Particularly headless results. I became a member of Huntington Gardens on Sunday - I get unlimited access and 10% off at the gift shop. Gift shops are often my favourite bit. The Rodarte girls live near the Huntington I think and often cite it as an inspiration - I can totally see why. The Rose Garden is in full-blooming-bloom RIGHT now and I could imagine any one of the frothy flowers as a Rodarte confection.

This book just came in and is full of the most wonderful photographs of gardens, flowers, fruits and meadows. I miss meadows from home.

I used the word "gardens" a lot in this post!

Daily Candy!

Thanks to Daily Candy for mentioning us in the Weekend Guide!

click here

Post-It-Notes.

I've done a window display in honour of the website. It took quite a while. And executing it made me feel a little demented but it's nearly complete! I'm deciding whether to do a neon blue border. I have to take a break because working in the window is like working in a greenhouse - it's boiling, boiling hot. I'm sweaty and red-faced.

As you can see from the photos, I started out with blue tape - went to hot pink post-its and then filled in the background in with yellow post-its. I think there's about a thousand post-its on the window.

Eighties!

Excess: Fashion and the Underground in the 80s

$39.95

I was reading The Moldy Doily today and there was a great post on Eighties-inspired fashion on ebay and it reminded me of this tip-top book. (There's also a wonderful post about shoes on The Moldy Doily that I would also recommend.) The book has fantastic pictures and some solid articles that aren't too high-brow for my befuddled brain.

It includes a brilliant glossary of eighties words in the back:

"Musts - just like status symbols, there were a whole host of musts to be desired. worn and inhaled (the Must de Cartier fragrance was created in 1981). There are those who religiously followed them, those who claimed to detest them, and those who amused themselves by inventing new ones. As we read in I-D in 1983, "bright nylon negligees and fluffy slippers are a must"."

and:

"Walkman - The launch of TPS-L2 by Sony in 1979 was to change the sound track of every day life forever. Music penetrated the head just like an idea, shut out the loud confusion of rush hour and restored energy in the gym. Kevin Bacon wore a Walkman around his waist while dancing in Footloose (1984) because, as the film's slogan announced, "music is on his side"."