What I'd wear to the party...

Happy New Year, my dears!

Hello. It's Tina here from the English Muse, filling in for Liss while she's vacationing in a beautiful and exotic land. It's rainy and chilly tonight in Los Angeles on this pre-New Year's eve. I stopped for a hot chocolate at my favorite newsstand cafe and found these lovely photographs in last month's issue of Yen magazine. I love this girl with the black cat mask. Perfect for New Years, don't you think?
The T-rex seems like a fitting accessory for a girl trying to ward off bad luck in the New Year.

What would you wear to the party? 
 Look for New Year’s eve partywear to look stylish come new year.

(Photography by Ellen Dahl and styling by Nadene Duncan)

Of Beauty and Science: the Endless Day

This amazing series of photos was created by Oregon artist and designer Cari Vander Yacht

I am forever awed and fascinated by the theater of the sky, with clouds as characters.

You can see the moving version of this series on Cari's wordpress page {here}.

I hope you're having a lovely day!
Tina
(Liss' stand-in this week)

Heather Smith Jones

The inspiring studio of Kansas based artist Heather Smith Jones.

Heather also has a gorgeous old letter press machine in her studio and creates the most beautiful letterpress artworks.

View more of Heathers work @ her online gallery.

Liebemarlene and the Nolan House

In the tiny town of Bostwick, Georgia there's this wonderful abandoned plantation without any doors. Peppermint magazine covergirl Rhiannon and filmmaker Drew Tyndell discovered that it was the perfect place for their dreamy Super 8-esque film, the Nolan House. This little gem of a movie is set to Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right."

Take a look and let me know what you think!

Nolan house from Drew Tyndell on Vimeo.

Rhiannon said later about the house: "I think it might be haunted though I can't be sure."

Adds to the lure...

Have a lovely day,
Tina
(Liss' guest blogger this week).

Burnished Gold

Hello my dears, I'm Liss' friend Tina, from the English Muse. I'm here for a few days this week to take care of her lovely blog while she's away on holiday. It's an honor to be here, especially at this time of the year.

The week between Christmas and New Years seems the most magical. It's as if time has slowed down to make everything more beautiful and enchanting, like the color of the sunsets.

Even though Christmas is over, I love turning off all the lights in the house except for the Christmas tree. I could spend hours looking at it. I even add more ornaments. Why not, right?

Then I make chai tea with soy milk and spices and curl up with a good book. I just started The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's wonderful so far.

What's your favorite thing to do during this second holiday week?


Photography by Barbara Vidal

Just a minute....in December

photo from beautiful blog abby try again
Reading... magazines, lots of blogs and looking for my next book to read. Think Ill grab one in the airport.
Drinking... Cherry smoothies as part of my plans to be healthy. One of my favourite things in summer is all the yummy fruit in season! Cherries always remind me of summer time!!
Listening... to lots of stuff, but according to my last.fm its mainly been Whitley, Feist and Lykke Li.
Wanting... my backpack to pack itself. I really don't enjoy packing or unpacking! I'm a last minute packer for sure.
Watching... Sex and the City, I finally got the complete boxed set (as a chrissy present) so Im re-watching them all in anticipation of the Sex and the city 2 movie out next year
Loving...Holidays!! I thought they would never come. I fly out tomorrow, eek!
Visit August Street to find out how to join in the Just A Minute meme.

Olivia Malone

If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time,
could I wake up as a different person?
~ Fight Club

Photography by Olivia Malone, Brooklyn.

I'm taking a little break for Christmas and will be back on the weekend with Just A minute in December. I hope you all have a magical Christmas !!! I'll be having Christmas Eve drinks & dinner at my sisters place, then Christmas lunch at my Mum's.

PS. Marthe has been doing an Advent Calendar of Blogs, introducing us to a new blog each day in the lead up to Christmas. The perfect advent calendar for us bloggers (or blog readers) !!! you can view all the blogs featured over here.

Fiona Watson

I used to be a scientist but have always been an artist.
♥

Fiona Watson, Scotland-based artist.
This quote really moved me, another scientist out there who is also a creative.
She also has a project called "an unwritten book" which I posted on The Next Page

for the love of doilies

click images for src.

I found some paper doilies in a $2 dollar shop. Now I can make some pretty collages, or use them for present wrapping, like in the last picture.

PS. Lightning Heart is giving away a beautiful Victorian style doily on her blog along with some other pretty things......enter here

x

Beauty in Motion

A round up of some of the pretty videos over on Lily & the Muse.

• The Row - Holiday Collection
• Stella McCartney - Magnolia Tree
• Victoria Beckham Collection
• On Cloud Nine
  
• Paris on The West Coast
• Gemma Booth - Treasure Box
  

oh and a favourite... The Vigrin Suicides Trailer - I want to watch this movie again!
Happy Weekend xo

One more week - hello holidays

These photos I saw on Floddertje's blog yesterday basically summed up how I'm feeling. I want some time to relax on a pretty floral couch, In fact I need some time out - I'm so exhausted. Its been a big year. Lucky holidays are only a week away now. Although I didnt exactly pick the relaxing type place for my holidays. hah!

Ive organised for four lovely bloggers to help me out whilst I'm away. There will be a new guest blogger each week. Along with some scheduled posts from me. Not long now.

Happy Friday!

Okay Zine Winner

Darcy@the state of my heart is the winner of OKAY Zine 3&4. The winners of the other prizes have been added to the end of the giveaway posts.

Thanks to everyone who played along, I wish I could give you all a prize!

Frieda Maria Stylist

I love the styling of French designer Frieda Maria. The details are just gorgeous, she also uses alot of handmade and vintage materials in her work.


And some other news....
I found out today I was selected as part of the Times Online 50 of the worlds best design blogs.

You know that place...

You know that place between sleep and awake
where you're still dreaming?

photography & words: je m'appelle n.

Nature Bulbs

Pretty handmade nature bulbs by Land-Rich Brooklyn, NY (via A Cup of Jo). Id love some to hang on my Christmas tree. But sadly they are all sold out for now.

Did I tell you I got a Christmas tree? My first ever Christmas tree, I feel so grown up! No more just throwing some tinsel around, I actually have a tree to celebrate Christmas the grown-ups way.

GIVEAWAY : OKAY Zine

OKAY is a limited edition loose page zine by artist Laura Mckellar.

Each page contains an artwork, photograph or little story based on the issues theme.
Issue 4. is exploring

pages are printed on different types of paper, including: trace,card,wallpaper, translucent,
And it comes in a handmade canvas pouch.

One reader will win a copy of Issue 3 & Issue 4. Open to all readers, just visit OKAY Etsy store or Blog and Leave a comment on this post to be in the running. Winner will be drawn at random Friday morning.

PS. This is my last giveaway for awhile, I hope you've enjoyed them. I will have the odd giveaway here and there next year. But I'm finding it hard to keep up with weekly ones.

Bright Star Tickets

I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days --three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.

- John Keats, Letter to Fanny Brawne, July 1, 1819

John Keats, the romantic poet, wrote the love poem “Bright Star” for his 18 year-old next door neighbour Fanny Brawne. This is the story of their first love.

I love Abbie Cornish and Ive been looking forward to this movie for so long!! It will be screening Nationally from 26th December and I have 5 double in-season passes courtesy of Hopscotch Films to giveaway. To be in the running to win a double pass just leave a comment on this post, open to Australian Readers only. Sorry to my international readers, Ill have a giveaway later today that is for everyone :)

Official Website for Bright Star

Winners drawn, congrats to: Annabel, Sundari, Jasmin, Sophie & Jessie.

Nirrimi Hankanson film

Stills from a first film "Imaginary Picnic" by Nirrimi Hankanson. Nirrimi is a 17 year old aspiring fashion photographer living in Melbourne (originally from Townsville), who is now represented by LookManagement. Very exciting for a young photographer who started out with a deviantArt and flickr account to showcase her work.

I was..

I was so jealous, I nearly ran away
I was so jealous, I really couldn't stay
What was wrong with me? I had some bad disease

Photography: "The Cherry Blossom Girl" by Esther K. & Emily Wren. Lyrics: Lisa Mitchell

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Enchantments OUMA Clothing

This photo is just all kinds of wonderful, taken for OUMA Clothing by Steph DeSage. *swoon*

Monique - the talented lady behind OUMA Clothing - makes each of her dresses with layers upon layers of lovely tulle, comfy cotton and LOVE... She also gets a talented bunch of photographers to shoot her range.

wild flowers

src:3.Hello Lucky, 4.Design Sponge, 7.studio choo others ffffound

Ive been going gaga lately over fresh flowers. Every weekend I've been going to the markets to buy some and each week I try out something different. This week is snap dragons.

I'm feeling all grown up having fresh flowers around the house....next time ill try a mixed bunch and separate them out into little bottles.

PS> Vintage shopping on the weekend was fun. I went to the Windsor end of Chapel St and also the Camberwell markets. I got two long strappy handbags and a vintage turquoise blue dress for only $20. yay!

GIVEAWAY Book City Jackets

Book City Jackets are offering one reader the chance to win both a set of the Artists Edition No. 3 AND "Reading List" from their latest range of book jackets.
Book City Jackets are a great holiday gift. Unique, inexpensive, one-size-fits-all and good for men and women. It's the kind of thing that you can stock up on have ready to go for the inevitable, unexpected gift-giving opportunities over the next few weeks.

They also have a Holiday special on at the moment buy any two sets and get free shipping, orders over $50 also get 10% off. Just use the code BCJ2009 when shopping!

Leave a comment to be in the running to win. Winner will be drawn at random Friday. Good Luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to Carly http://agirlandherblogspot.blogspot.com/, the winner of this giveaway.

India: an update

photos by Yan Chan

Remember this post about my trip to India? Well its almost here, only 3 weeks away in fact! I'll be gone close to a month. I'm scheduling a bunch of posts for when I'm gone. And if I get a chance, Ill stop in at an Internet cafe and give you all a little update.

I have most of my itinerary sorted, will be flying into Delhi then straight to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Then to Jodphur >> fly to Mumbai >> train to Goa >> then another train to Kerala (which will be a 15 hour train! eek) then flying back to Delhi.

So my question is what should I do for my last week in the North of India? Ive looked into tours a bit but they are SO expensive, I thought if I booked them once I'm already over there it might be alot cheaper. I'm also still thinking Homestays might be a good option. My bestfriend is from Punjab and has suggested I go stay with her family there.....well its getting close, so I guess I have to make a decision soon. Aaah planning a trip can be so stressful. I much prefer travel where I can just decide once I'm there. I've heard India isnt the sort of country where I can do that though.

Which would you choose?