You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2012.
latartinegourmande.com
I am still enjoying the Tartine Gourmande website and not just for recipes but for still-life ideas as she has a special eye for food photography.
I had seen the above images before and must have had them catalogued in my memory because I seized upon a bag of reduced pea-pods in the supermarket aisle as if I already knew what I was going to do.
I think my age is beginning to defie these bird-eye views because of the neck ache it causes but I’m sure someone said something about suffering for your art!
Pea Pods © Claire Leggett
- Blossoms © Claire Leggett
- I was inspired by all those beautiful painted fabric patterns in the last post,
- to work up a painting I did of some fallen cherry blossoms from the Springtime.
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- I kept the colour palette pared back and in keeping with the calm environment I imagine in my mind’s eye when I think of cherry blossoms growing in a Japanese tea garden. Think wind chimes and trickling water.
Homes and Antiques – August 2012
Just now there are some really exciting painterly prints around on homeware and clothes.
Bluebell Gray - Sunny Fabric Panel
Bluebell Gray is a favourite of mine. Fi Douglas the designer behind Bluebell Gray has a fantastic bold approach with a brush and lots of watery brushmarks.
Bluebell Gray Fabric Collection
Her gorgeous home features quite a bit in the Selina Lake book ; Homespun Style and she also has a range available in John Lewis.
- voyage maison
Voyage Maison was a company I came across on one of my latest jaunts.
voyage maison
Again lots of bright gestural prints. I love that multi-coloured bobble edging 
voyage maison
I’m not sure I could live with it 24/7 but it looks so bright and happy – it must put you in a good mood!
voyage maison
It’s like a summer’s day everyday.
And for fashion I happened across moniquilla.com. Simple painted pattern but gorgeous colours and contrasting prints. Gets me excited to paint something.
The girls behind the The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design course have just released their first online magazine; the only magazine available that is dedicated just to surface pattern design. It is called Moyo which means pattern in Japanese.
It is packed with interviews, design briefs, colour challenges, art reviews, student showcases, design tips, inspiration, trends and more, this free resource will be published quarterly, and you can read and download the inaugural issue here!
Make a brew and have a look for a little inspiring time-out from it all.
It’s not been a great year for flowers in my garden (too much rain, dog trampling after frogs and garden renovating) but one thing that has survived any neglect from me or mother nature has been the nasturtiums.
I love everything about them – from the colours of the flowers to the shape and symmetry of the leaves.
They are just really cute!
I bought a mixed-colour pack this year and have been beyond delighted with this pink and it has inspired lots of design ideas.
The baby leaves look as cute as anything.
They do say that nasturtiums are the easiest flower for children to grow but I don’t mind – I am easily pleased! They are sunny and bright to look at on the patio and happy flowers to paint too.
One of the upsides of lots of TV watching is lots of knitting time.
This is Aimee from Thrown Together by Kim Hargreaves and it was a stash-busting project so I can feel extra smug about it!
I used a mohair by Wendy but it knitted up a lot like Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn. It was like knitting up angel hair!
And speaking of angels – thanks to my model. I wish she would let me show you the out-takes because she was hilarious
This past week has ticked around very slowly as I’ve sat recovering from an inner ear infection. But it did mean that I’ve watched a lot of TV and had a fair amount of computer time – so here’s some things to share….
Watched Team GB’s Francesca Jones ( all the way from our very own Birmingham City) compete in the Rhythm Gymnastic’s. AmAzInG what these girls can do with ribbon, hoops, batons and balls, all set to music!! Like ballet and gym after drinking Red Bull. Awesome!
Sweet Paul
Discovered the Sweet Paul website and in particular the back issues pages. Beautiful magazine full of lots of creativity and gorgeous photo’s.
Sweet Paul
Bought some lovely Liberty fabrics for still life backgrounds for when I do stop feeling dizzy and can paint again.
Found this article from the New York Times by Tim Krieder (found via Lisa and Susan) witty and interesting; a balm to my anxious soul while it recalibrates to this new stage of my working life that looks, and feels, very different to my previous one.
“Busyness serves as a kind of existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness; obviously your life cannot possibly be silly or trivial or meaningless if you are so busy, completely booked, in demand every hour of the day.”
Which is a good note to end on because I have most certainly not been busy but hopefully I’ll be back up to 100% and soon have more creative exploits to share with you
Nathalie Lete
Nathalie Lete has to be one the artistes
du moment.
Nathalie Lete Atelier
I found myself looking through her website recently and came across these gorgeous pictures of her home/workshop.
And as I know I’m not alone in liking a virtual snoop around, I thought I’d share them with you!
Nathalie Lete Atelier
Magnifique n’est-il pas?
Nathalie Lete Atelier
What a major day this was!
First up was an early start and some trains to travel but as soon as we got near the Excel centre we began to feel it was worth it because of the amazing atmosphere.
We had got tickets to see table tennis which turned out to be the first rounds of singles and double matches for the women.
No GB stars here at all but Poland and Singapore were well matched and gave an amazing game.
The arena has four games going on simultaneously which can mean it’s hard to keep with one match and they don’t volley for long because they are so good – it’s over with quite quickly.
Then it was onto the Olympic village.
It happened to be the busiest day of the games so far with 80,000 people there but it didn’t feel too crowded.
I think they had done a fantastic job of the stadium and landscaping – there were wild flower meadows everywhere.
There was lots of community involvement and a place to continue to interact such as this tunnel of good wishes. This is a sentiment I’d echo too; “Well done GB: SO proud to be British! You have created a great park.”
So glad I got to go and see it all first hand but as my daughter said ‘You don’t see so much of the Olympic sports when you’re there!’ so it’s good to be back on the couch in front of the TV channel surfing the sports, knitting and cheering along.
I was just doing some housekeeping on my website, when I came across these photo’s I’d taken when in Paris, made into a blog post and then forgotten to show you. Well there was a lot of visual goodness to share following that sweet little trip, so it’s no wonder.
Paris is full of exquisite window displays but the ones in Fragonard really caught my eye – I definitely quickened my pace toward the shop door as if magnetised.
It looked to me like a Parisian version of Anthropologie…
… as there was lots of embroidery, ethnic inspired clothes and quirky interior pieces.
I took this photo as a reminder to have a go at this myself. Have I yet? Have I heck. Should have just bought some!
I had a hard time leaving without buying lots of desirable but not needed items. Mr L bought me some Violet eau de toilette – now I wonder if he thought that was desirable or a necessity – thinking about it maybe he was dropping a hint ;0
