Get Framed

I saw this frame the other day at Ikea in person and loved it. However, the thing about Ikea here, is that it's not that cheap... the frame is $24.99 in the states and here it would be roughly $45.00 when i convert it. Yikes... But how great would it looks with an amazing graphic-y print inside, or perhaps our head silhouettes? Maybe I'll buy one while I'm home and have Sheila store it (along with a mountain of other stuff... bless.) until we move back in a year and can finally put all of our stuff in one place. And, as we've always talked about..."buy real furniture"....no more futons and make shift shelves....weee!

Tiny Vessels*

I haven't yet read my Domino Magazine because I'm saving it for this weekend. I can then completely relax and throw myself into it. I did however take a sneak peek and eek! There is an article about uncommon vessels for flowers. Teacups, bowels, tea pots. LOVE! I'm getting some ideas for this summers festivities...

* I know, I just had to throw in the Death Cab for Cutie reference... I mean, how often do you talk about 'vessels'. Unless you're a sea captain,or I guess a doctor or, oh forget it...

Celia Birtwell for Express

Man... I'm always away for the good collaborations....piddles... Ah well, safer for my wallet. Celia Birtwell has worked with Express adding her signature florals to some fun summer pieces.

Feeling Summer-y

I'm liking these images from British clothing company Boden. Almost like an English J.Crew. Oh summer...When I'm home this summer I want to ride my bike, eat watermelon, sail, and have lots of photos taken of me doing all of this while looking effortlessly stylish, and laughing with my mouth wide open. Not unlike a live J.Crew or Boden catalog...ahem...

For ME!?

Erik came back from his trip yesterday. I was very excited to see him...but also incredibly excited by what he brought back for me... People Magazine, Us Weekly, Domino, Martha Stewart Weddings, more People, and more US Weekly.... Oh what a happy girl I am....But it didn't end there... on his way over he flew first class on Lufthansa and asked for the girl version of their travel bag for me. yay! It's this printed Bogner bag filled with mini clarins face care, a folding hairbrush... aah...the simple things that keep me happy...

My Neighborhood...

While waiting for erik to get back from the airport, I took a long walk around our neighborhood. We live in such a beautiful place. I'm so lucky. I am constantly trying to take full advantage of all of the inspiration I can soak in. Here are some photos for your Sunday night/Monday morning...

Shorts Three Ways

Besides gym ones, I don't own any shorts. I'm not sure if it's because I never liked them on me, or because I was mentally scarred by the stone washed denim ones I wore every single day summers '90-'95... But... I think I am ready to move on. I am ready to wear shorts again. Also, the weather is so freakin hot here and I'm tired of wearing the same denim skirt every day which will no doubt come back to haunt me and leave more mental scars...
Anyhoo.... Here are 3 ways to wear this pair of shorts. All pieces from TopShop.

"Got a beach called Stoney, with a terrible smell..."

Eeek! Ok so this post has absolutely nothing to do with anything except for the fact that I'm SO excited to, not only get married to my favorite boy in less than 4 months, but to get married in my most favorite place in the world, Woods Hole. (Yes, even more favorite than Anthropologie). I'm just so so so excited. It's such a magical place for me. I know it may not be to everyone, but for me and all of my old Woods Hole friends (and new Woods Hole friends, you know who you are), it's our magical perfect place. Maybe because we all grew up there and it brings us back to our childhoods, maybe it was the mix of beach, science, and perfect Food Buoy sandwiches... but it will always be the best place ever.

Forever in My Heart...

I've kind of forgotten about Forever 21. Perhaps because I'm so far away, or perhaps because I realized I own so many pieces from there that are unwearable... You know, the dress that you bought because it was so cute, but when you tried it on again at home, it was a tad too short, or fit weird... I mostly have the 'too-short' problem. I think I'm realizing that a person my age can't always get away with dresses made for someone 10 years her junior. Not that I'm against wearing short skirts when you're older and have the body to do so. (side note, I watched the end of What's Love Got to Do With It, what an amazing story, I love Tina Turner... and that Angela Bassett...Holy arm muscles...wow.) But for me personally, I feel like I want clothes that look good on me, not just on the hanger. This may sound obvious to most people, but I'm only starting to get it now... But! as I blabber and blobber, I do like these dresses from Forever 21, and since I do own a couple of things from there that I do love and always elicit the " Oh my god! Really? Forever 12??!", I am not giving up on them yet... I'll give them a couple more years....

Sketches on a Friday

Happy Friday! Last night I worked on practice drawings, it was really satisfying/frustrating. I started to fall back in. I got some shadow boxes from Ikea yesterday and started making some collages....

I'm still a little scared of making them look cheesy... you know? Like something you might find in Pier One (not that Pier One is necessarily cheesy, but well... you know what I mean), Or, as Sheila so kindly pointed out, like the art you might find in The Christmas Tree Shop...ahem... thanks. But we'll see if I can stand looking at them. They aren't at all what I usually do, so it was kind of fun to try something different and light.. A bit calmer, not so heavy...
and these are some sketches that have been worked on/out...

Ikea Fun (?)

I decided to make the trip to Ikea today... Why I chose today, I'm not sure. Most people have a holiday today and are off work, plus according to Weather.com it's 90 degrees... add to this the feeling that it was 'Take-your-whole-extended- family-plus-baby-carriages-to-Ikea Day'... does not a happy zoe make. However, I made it through the store, only grumbling when I accidently went to the show room part, and not the shopping part. Ugh. In the end, I did come away with some fun gems. I'm really excited about this alarm clock since I don't have one...although I'm a little worried the tick-tocking may keep me awake...we'll see.
Some fabric which ended up being only about $3 a meter...


Vases, candle and pillow cases...


And the pillow cases in action, on the chair we found last summer.

More V&A...

Another upcoming show to the V&A is The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection. From May 13-October 19, this exhibit looks like a definite go-to. (You lucky Londoners...) Displays of their costumes (Sequins! Fringe!), magazines, and TV performances create a picture of what life was like for these performers during such a turbulent and changing time.

The Art of the Book

The V&A have an exhibition on now until June 29th called Blood on Paper: The Art of the Book. It looks great. A collection of artists books; some actual books, some the artist's own idea of a 'book' in varying medias and scales.

Above, Louise Bourgeois.
Below, Sol LeWitt

Below, Alberto Giacometti


There was an article about this show in the May issue of British Vogue. In the article they included images of various designers sketch books which was inspiring. When Zandra Rhodes travels, she makes sure to do a drawing every day... A nice rule to impose upon yourself. This week has been an interesting one for me. I've been painting every day...something I haven't done probably, since college. I miss it. But I'm also frustrated at my lack of practice, and my slowness. Having worked in graphics for so long, I need that instant gratification. I need the "undo". Perhaps this is good for me, to stay in the process instead of working towards an end. I want to get back into working on my sketch books. When I was younger I was constantly making sketches, writing down ideas. I feel like the past few years, that side of my creativity has been hibernating. I'm hoping it's like riding a bike, and as soon as I begin, I'll fall back into my routine. I think that when you're young working in a city, working 12 hours a day in front of a computer, the last thing you want to do when you get home is draw... You want to flop in front of the TV with a glass of wine and an episode of the OC. Now that I have the time and more than enough inspiration, I'm hoping something will happen...

Just Thinking...

Whenever Erik goes away, I end up watching lots of Sex and the City, which of course brings me back to reminisce about my years in NY. I miss them so much, but more than that, I miss my girlfriends. Honestly, what would I have do without email?? I'd be a lost girl in the Holy Land...I miss you guys.

PS the Sex and the City shout out is for you, Garland. I miss you!

Inspirations For a Tuesday Morning

An embroidered hanging I bargained for in Old Jerusalem...


Chinese blue lantern we bought in Tel Aviv...


My colorful coverup from Eilat...


Beautiful amber erik's parents brought me from Poland...


One of my favorite bags Konrad gave me a couple of years ago...

(*sidenote...I apologize for how crappy my camera is... I've got to start using Erik's....)

Roman Glass

While in Ceasarea, Erik's parents and I found shops selling Roman Glass Jewelry. The glass is 2000 years old and was given to artists to create unique pieces of art to wear. I was a lucky duck who had this ring bought for me...eeee!!! I LOVE it. The color reminds me so much of the water around here set against the browns of the sand and cliffs... The ring works well against my now, very brown skin.

And Then There Was Only One...

Erik's parents left this afternoon, and Erik left early this morning for a work trip. I've gone from a very full house, to an empty one. I'm hoping this week to get over this cough/cold which has decided to take a liking to me. Ugh.
But! here are some photos from the fabulous time we had these past few days. It was a great trip and I'm excited for their next one!





an incredibly hot photographer...


perfect day for the kite surfers by our house...

Yes or No?

Do we like these shoes? Or are they totally ugly? Hmmm... I think I might...maybe like them?? They are from Nine West, and as I went to the website, there was a link for "Shop prom; Prom Fever is Rising". Wow..... the prom.... Remember the prom?! The prom was the reason Erik asked me out... in high school...13 years ago! Crazy.... I wore a plain black sundress and a huge silver necklace from India. Looking back, maybe it would have been more fun to wear something a bit more foofy, and vintage, girly....However, in high school, I had blue hair, pink hair, and only wore Doc Martins, so I wasn't about to wear a full 'prom' dress. I owned one pair of heels, black John Fluevogs with a huge buckle on them... oh how I have changed....(still have the fluevogs though...)

I Heart Books

I've been waiting for this book, Bazaar Style to come out since I read about it on Decor8. While I was putting it in my cart ( I often put things in my cart and then wait a while to buy them... I know, I'm weird. It's just one of my things), I saw this Lotta Jansdotter book, which also found it's way into my cart.


It looks like a pretty awesome book. Something I've been thinking about lately is focusing more of making things. My future mother-in-law and I were talking about how I have so much time here... more time than I may ever have again, and it would be silly for me not to be making things. I want to print fabric, I want to paint, I want to sew, to embroider, knit, crochet, read, be inspired... On monday, erik is flying to the US and his parents are flying home, so I will be left all alone after 3 1/2 weeks of back to back guests. I'm hoping to just throw myself into creating. Let's hope it happens...

Wait, I'm Not Done...

I would like this bag as well please....

How Can a Girl Choose?

I have 2 of these Hobo wallets already and love them both... buuut....I may need a new one. My friend Lisa first got me addicted to these leather beauties and once you have one... you want another. But now I would have to decide which color....
available here.

Just Plain Pretty.

I love these pieces from Accessorize. After spending so much time surrounded by turquoise seas and soft muted browns, I can't get enough of either color. I love this beach cover up, I got a loverly one while I was in Eilat, and will later post a photo of it... Oh how I love beach fashion... it looks great, and when you wear it, you know you'll have a perfect day; how can you not at the beach...right?

Cath Kidston (again)

I know, I know. I'm always going on about Cath Kidston, but I received the latest catalog yesterday and now have more new favorites. Like this lounge chair... I could have used this last week in the sun...
And I'm loving this "breakfast" pattern. Oh it's all too good....