Spring wish.

© Joaquim Dias

I keep telling myself that I should paint again but it hasn't felt like the right time so I procrastinate... Just do it! right? when it comes to painting and drawing that slogan isn't effective enough for me. What's it gonna take??? hmmmmm.....

Isn't she LOVELY!

A lot of beautiful women on the carpet this year! Wow Cate!!! as usual!!!, Gwyneth was true to her personal style in Calvin Klien, and Halle, the stunning.
This year I thought Mila(AP photo/Matt Sayles) and Jennifer(AP photo) were standouts. Mila Kunis might not have won an award yet but her stylist deserves one for putting her in so many great looks this award season, effortlessly lovely! Jennifer Lawrence was blonde hotness done in the most tasteful way, very hard to pull off.
But if you want to know what André thought check out vogue here

Cristobal Balenciaga

Yup, I'm just not worthy.

Good Golly.

I love images like this with all the elements that make up the whole all laid out in a kind of categorical order, it's very satisfying somehow. ...and I wouldn't mind a bite of Molly's lunches. Check out her fun blog here

All Grown up and Dignified.

I'm discovering that my personal style for home décor has evolved into a taste for the classic, elegant and opulent. That's sounds a bit show-offey but I truly don't mean to come across that way. It's just that there are so many contemporary trends out there showcasing combinations of the same stuff, over and over again, and so much of it is embarrassingly cliché. There's something special about filling a room with very fine things that have been acquired over time, instead of building a Pop-Up Shop home. When I look at the image below I feel inspired to learn more so that I may develop and cultivate my sense of style. Ultimately I want to live in a home that is a true reflection of who I am.

I understand that having taste is one thing and the ability to afford the finer things is another - so for now it's "look, can't buy". Who knows maybe one day.....

Check out more of designer Michael S. Smith's refined sensibility in Architectural Digest.

Oh Mirror Mirror On The Wall.

I would love to have a large french mirror hanging on my living room wall but I haven't seen "the one" yet. I don't think it's the type of thing I'll find by actively seeking it out. Instead, my hope is that when the time is right it will simply manifest itself. That's right! I'm puttin' it out there! Something like this one I saw on Etsy but larger.

Just Brilliant.

Radiohead makes me believe that good art can still be made.

Blake's All-American Ambition.

Legs that go on forever, slammin' body, and a sense of style to boot.

I think Blake Lively manages to achieve what very few can - she shows us that approachable, All-American, edgy and fashion forward can all work hand and hand.

love ANNE.

Photograph by Kurt Iswarienko

User Friendly.

Such a simple, interactive way to shop online. Great!

Check out the Patrik Ervell site

Vulnerable Warrior.

This series of images by photographer Richard Burbridge is simply striking.
There were shot for Swedish publication Livraison.

Beautiful disaster

Yves Marchand Romain Meffre's work is stunning. Art like this reminds me to look around and discover the beauty in decay and ruin. If you like this work you might also like Robert Polidori and Ed Burtynsky's work

A true Portrait.

I love this "Portrait of a Man" by Rembrandt because it's portrait painting at it's best. It's not merely a photo-real likeness of the sitter but pure human alchemy. It's like I'm witnessing this individual in the immediate present, right here, right now.
This painting is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, one of my most treasured places on earth.

Silviu & Scarlett

A few guys have been attributed to being called the male version of the indescribably beautiful Scarlett Johansson, but it wasn't till I first saw an ad with Romanian born Silviu Tolu that I said wow, I can see it!
Silviu has been profiled on The Fashionisto blog

Discover your world.

The University of Toronto's Map & Data Library is a great resource for high resolution maps. Although many of the maps are Canadian, you will find a few of other countries such as this beautiful vintage one of Paris. This would look great actual size (30"L X 40"W) giclée printed on cotton paper. Vintage high resolution maps, WOW~

(first discovered on BlogTo)

Viva La Lopez!

Ever since I saw Jennifer Lopez as a Flygirl on "In Living Colour" I could tell that she was something special. Now years later she's on American Idol, a great career move on her part. Yeah sure we know she's a diva, but on this show you can clearly see that she has genuine heart. And geez, hotter than ever!!!

The value of painting.

Every time I look at a Morandi painting I feel quite emotional because I'm know that I'm being offered the opportunity to engage with the sublime. Giorgio Morandi (June 08, 1890 - June 18, 1964) was considered to be one of the greatest Italian painters of his generation, and although I relish in the power of the Italian Masters of the Renaissance, I have a very special place in my heart for Morandi and his small, still life paintings. His work is proof positive that artwork does not have to be physically large in scale to have big impact. These small paintings reveal themselves slowly and require that you exercise your "gaze" and truly engage with them, but the reward is truly life affirming. Like Rothko, Morandi's uses the substance of paint to communicate the ephemeral and fleeting nature of the material.

It takes Guts!

Check out I Heart Guts

My 80's Valentine.

I miss the days when all you had to do in a music video was show up, LOL! I'm thinking of adding "Champagne" to my middle name - yes??? no???? maybe????

Sweet & Salty.

I gotta say that for a commercial company as large as Lindt they really do produce excellent quality dark chocolate. My current favourite gotta-have-treat is the Lindt dark chocolate bar with Sea Salt.  I enjoy it best at room temperature.

I HEART carbs and cheese!

One of the best things about living in a city like Toronto is that one has access to great food at a good price. My favourite pizzeria in the city without a doubt is Pizzeria Libretto! Last night a good friend and I sampled their Prix Fixe dinner and it was soooo goooooddddd!!!
The meal included an Antipasto of Bruschetta (the chef's special creation), Caprese Salad with loads of Bocconcini (my friend ordered the potato croquettes), any pizza of our choice(we tried both the Sausage and the Eggplant), and THE MOST AMAZING DESERT I've had in a long time - a lemon curd Panna Cotta topped with pistachios (my friend ordered the Tiramisu which was also very good). If you live in Toronto or plan on visiting then I high recommend Libretto and their prix fix dinner option, at $25 it's the best value in town!
p.s. if your friend(s) also order the prix fixe you all get to sample each others choices, now that's liberation!

image from blogto review of Pizzeria Libretto

Caravaggio - a Force of Human Nature

If you would like to better understand the sheer power and value of painting you should look to the masters. Caravaggio's body of work is just! just!! just!!! phenomenal!!!!!!. The fact that he lived such a colourful life yet had the sensitivity, courage, and talent to deliver such deeply personal work is beyond profound!!! If you ever get a chance to see a painting by this master I encourage you to do so. For those living near Ottawa, Canada, there will be a show at the National Gallery of Canada this summer, I cant wait!!!

Freunde von Freunden is in your space.

You don't need to speak German to understand Kool. I love this site

Je ne sais quoi

What makes a star? I'm not sure. Take Jamie Dornan for example, he looks like your average good looking male model right? yet somehow when I see his pictures I see something more... not quite sure what it is though.
It's not like people haven't paid attention, I mean his debut gig was as the face of Calvin Klein, and the editor of GQ named him the male Kate Moss. But without even knowing that info I can see that he has that certain indescribable quality. Good looking models with good skin and perfect bodies are a dime a dozen, yet even though his look is somewhat conventional, he's special! and that's what is interesting to me. I'm not sure if he's considering acting but somehow I predict big things for him.
Good Luck Jamie!
Images found on The Fashionisto

Model Monday

You usually hear models have very short careers, however I still see many of the big names from the past still working and quite relevant. Stella Tennant, although mostly retired, has to be one of my favourite working models from the British scene. Here's to representing you age in mad style!
image blogged from Art8amby's Blog.

Black Swanish

blogged from Achtung

If Fashion were a person...

She would be Anna Dello Russo

Prada 2011 - Jones 1985

Jean-Paul Goude and Grace Jones = ART

Holy FACE Batman!

If Cate Blanchett and Jonathan Rhys Meyers had a son, he might look like Jaco Van Den Hoven. I mean is he even human???

Shortcake the Destroyer

This image from the upcoming show Gag Me with a Toon 2  at Melt Gallery in LA might just make your day!

Very Pinteresting!

If you love browsing through images Pinterest is the place for you.

Vintage Bliss.

I've been noticing so many beautiful elements in wedding design lately like this wonderful receipt paper alter by The Wedding Company-Kansas City.