Gilot.

Francois Gilot is definitely on my dream list of people I want to hang out with.

via Vogue

“You always survive if you think you should,” she says. “I didn't ask permission to be who I am.”

exerpt from this great read in Vogue. She is a genuine and independent spirit, the real deal folks!

via des femmes

via dear golden

There is a show at Gagosian Gallery in NYC starting this Wednesday, May 2nd on Picasso & Gilot. Can't wait to check it.

Design Combines.

I've always had this tendency to create groupings of similar or sometimes (seemingly) disparate objects into little vignettes. Maybe it stems from my Catholic upbringing or perhaps from my childhood joy of playing with toys. Either way it's fun! I build these little alters everywhere - in my garden, around my desk at work, with food, at the beach, anywhere! It's kinda funny because I've never been any good at creating mood boards, but in a way I guess this is similar. It seems to be part of my creative process and provides an endless source of joy & pleasure.

My niece also has a similar love for combining. She took all these greats shots, and even got into styling stuff when she was at my place last, check it:

All photos in this post by © D. Fernandes

Life is Beautiful.

Pablo Picasso "The Acrobat" via Musée National Picasso Paris

This weekend I enjoyed Picasso, Dim Sum & great company.

Paris VS New York

via Paris versus New York

I love the minimalist work of artist Vahram Muratyan. I've been following his work for some time now and it's so great to see his Paris versus New York project develop further. Two awesome cities, one awesome illustrator!
So tempted to pick up the book and/or a print....

via Paris versus New York

Dunny LOVE.

via Elle magazine

I'm jealous! Sam Ronson has a LOTTA Dunnies!!! I also love that she keeps a bunch of blank DIY Munnys on hand for her friends (Nicole Richie, Zooey Deschanel and so on....) to draw on. Check out the write-up in Elle mag on Samatha's Venice Beach home.

Here are some of my Dunny's:

photos by ©J. Dias

Oh and a few DIY's drawn by artists' Junko Mizuno, Kozyndan & the awesome Friends With You!

photo by ©J. Dias

Canadian Modern.

via Modern Craze blog

via Modern Craze blog

via Canadian Design Resource

via Canadian Design Resource

via Flickr here

Ever since I saw these kooky eyed ceramic creatures I've kinda fell for Strawberry Hill pottery. This pottery was produced near Strawberry Creek in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They created a line based around the native wildlife indigenous to the area. These little guys might not be everyone's cuppa tea but I find them pretty darn cool!

An American Girl in Italy.

© 1952, 1980 Ruth Orkin via here

Several years ago, while on a typical Saturday art crawl with my friend Larry, we came across a great exhibition of work by photographer Ruth Orkin at Stephen Bulger Gallery. Although it's a pretty iconic image I'd never seen it till then, so it was great to have the opportunity to experience not only this image but others in the series as well.

While we were chatting a couple of sophisticated elderly woman came into the gallery. Turns out one of them was the woman in the "American Girl in Italy" photo!

It was kinda surreal to engage with an image of a woman from a different time and place and then also experience the same woman in the flesh as she exists today, here in my city. It was one of those serendipitous moments I will forever cherish!

You can read about her story here, and about photographer Ruth Orkin here.

On a side note I'm pretty sure the photo above was taken outside Gilli cafe in Florence. If your in Florence, check out the window display, then go inside for a expresso at the bar. Trust me, it's sooooo worth it!

 photo by ©J. Dias