photo du jour

A bouquet of yellow roses next to my desk.

Collection No.5

I spent last month immersed in a stack of Mary Stewart paperbacks set in exotic locales, and as a result was left with a burning desire to roam the hills of Grecian island villages and swim in the sparkling waters of the Aegean sea.
It was inevitable that as I sat at my worktable, my daydreams would work their way out through my fingertips, and into the stones and metals I was working with.

This collection is already wending its way to Japan, and will be available at Daphne later this month.
In the meantime I've begun amassing gemstones and materials for the next set -- citrus-y hues of carnelian, ocean blues of apatite, and golden cognac quartz. My mind is still full of bright, hot landscapes, ancient architecture, and the mythological gods still present just under the surface of modern life.

Song of the Month: June edition

This month's theme song could have been written just for me. It is hard not to smile at the ruthlessly cheerful lyrics, and it doesn't hurt that the lead singer is a fine example of what Stephanie would refer to as an "HBM" (Hot British Male). If, as the song assures me, I can have it all, then I'd like more of that please.

* Happy June *

1. Anatomica by Yulia

Reasons to rejoice the arrival of my favorite month, June:

• Mercury is direct again
• mangoes are in season (there is homemade mango sorbet in the freezer, and plans to make a mango tarte are underway)
• the rainy season has begun in earnest (does my heart good to know the parched Everglades is getting vital water)
• I've just completed my most favorite jewelry collection yet, and it will be up later this month
• an influx of birthday moola means I get to treat myself to something extra special... what shall I splurge on? maybe a new bikini?
  

Love List, Monday Edition

Pink Lemonade by blary54

A love list has heretofore been a Friday tradition, but upon reflection, it feels like Monday is just as good a day as any other to give thanks to the universe for all the lovable stuff floating around.
This version is courtesy of Meg, the Queen of Lists.

THINGS YOU LOVE

1. Song you love: Currently totally in love with both the remake and original version of Just Can't Get Enough -- makes me jump-on-the-bed-and-dance-like-a-looney kind of happy.

2. Book you love: I have a large stack of Mary Stewart novels piled on my nightstand right now; they are wonderfully retro (written in the 60's) and feature gorgeous, exotic locations described in vivid detail. They don't quite fulfill my wanderlust, but they'll do until my next travel opportunity materializes.

3. Type of cuisine you love: All of them. But I'll say Japanese since it's been a year since I was in Tokyo and I haven't had a good yakitori fix since then.

4. Beverage you love: Sparkling pink lemonade.

5. Cookie you love: One that's fresh out of the oven.

6. Ice cream flavour you love: This week it's Coffee.

7. Place you love to go: my favorite jewelry supply shop in Kichijoji. I like to make an outing of it; a lovely train ride there, have lunch at one of the myriad little unique restaurants, then hours in the shop picking out gemstones and beads.

8. Thing you love to drive: I've always wanted to try a Vespa.

9. Place you love to live: the south of France would be Nice (oh, I kill me).

10. Movie you love: Priceless. Um, can I be Audrey Tautou in my next life, please?

11. Time in your life you loved: When I first moved to Japan and everything was new and sparkly and every weekend an adventure.

12. Person you love: Abe.

13. Cute picture of a baby animal you love (provide link): By definition all baby animals are cute, but you can never go wrong with kittens

14. Item of clothing you love most (that you own): My new summer dress in perfect soft, airy cotton (see previous post).

15. Way of relaxing you love best: hanging out at a yummy cafe with my Tokyo girls, just sharing food and chatting and taking pictures.

Summer Wardrobe

Summer has arrived, and though I usually dread the harbinger of muggy, fry-pan-hot days and sweltery mosquito nights, I figured there must be something about summer I can celebrate.
So I've concocted a fashionable ode to ice cold drinks, feather-light cotton, slide-on sandals, and bright, bright colors.
This is what I'll be wearing 'til September (though maybe not so much the $4,200 earrings).

photo by Ewan-M

* Earrings by Miguel Ases
* Peach Tank from Pacific Sunwear
* Striped Shorts from American Eagle
* Treasure Trove Bag from Anthropologie
* Organdy fleur capri sandals from J. Crew


photo by Guccia

* Vintage sunglasses by Dior
* Earrings by Darlene de Sedle
* La Piedra Sundress from Hollister
* Slim Flip Flops from Havaianas
* Bracelet by Tai

Gems Galore

I've been happily tucked away in my workspace, busy dreaming up new designs for Daphne collection #4. This month's shipment of gems are particularly juicy and vibrant, so I want to keep the layout uncomplicated, to showcase the beauty of the stone. Because each piece is light and simple, I love to layer them all together and revel in the decadence of color.

Life's a Beach

Scenes from a brief jaunt down to South Beach:




brunchtime at News Cafe

my cousin and I, she of the California dream house

my eggs Benedict were done to perfection

a glimpse of the Versace mansion


a picture-perfect white, sandy beach

the water was refreshing, warm, and enticing...


all too soon it was time to go home.

Good Things Come in Mint Green

1. Because you can't have nightmares on an empty stomach..., 2. dream a little dream of me.,
3. Peruvian opals, 4. 76.adam_hayes

We have skipped right over Spring and jumped headlong into Summer here, and my thoughts turn towards anything that offers cool refreshment. One can't exactly spend all day eating mint chocolate chip ice cream, so with my ceiling fan on high and a cold glass of Pellegrino beside me, I went in search of the visual equivalent.

* Mint ice cream is as nice to look at as it is to taste.
* I have a major schoolgirl crush on the Diana+ camera. That thing is adorable.
* Peruvian blue opals are my current favorite gemstone. Cannot get enough of that milky smooth polish and dreamy colour. (This particular necklace is going in my 3rd collection for Daphne.)
* A lovely sentiment expressed in simple but appealing design. I know exactly which day I'd have to live over again if I could. Do you?

Show and Tell

Because the inside of my mind is mainly stuffed with Peruvian opals and Czech glass and golden wire these days, I haven't had many actual thoughts to share. But today I came upon a lovely blog and found the following assignment, which looked totally fun and gives me an excuse to share some pretty pictures and music.
This is the premise:

With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in:
1 picture
1 song or piece of music
1 phrase or quote
1 item of clothing
1 place
1 Disney princess

1 picture:
Sometimes I think that my best photographs are all behind me. That I'll never again have the sheer fun of grabbing my old Canon, a few rolls of film, and a good friend willing to get all dolled up for a photoshoot field trip. I hope that's not true.

Saratoga Springs, NY 1999

1 song:

1 quote:
"If your job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed for just one moment through your efforts, then OLÉ, and if not, do your dance anyhow, and OLÉ to you nonetheless. OLÉ to you nonetheless just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up."

- Elizabeth Gilbert on creativity, from her brilliant talk at TED

1 item of clothing:
Living in a hot climate has given me an appreciation for soft, airy fabrics like voile and Indian cotton. Things that feel like they are just barely brushing your skin. Nothing tight or ornate, just as natural and loose and cool as possible.

moghul flower tunic from toast

1 place:
If there is any place more comforting and full of promise than a bakery, I haven't yet been there. I'm pretty sure this is exactly what heaven smells like.

taken by Haribo's Photos

1 Disney princess:
She wasn't exactly a princess, but Alice has long been a muse of mine.

Annie Leibovitz for Vogue