Abstract Colour by Yangyang Pan

I'm loving the colours used in these paintings by Yangyang Pan. So so pretty!

(Also, please note my spelling of the word "colour" in honor of my new English heritage.)

Loving on Laurence Amelie

I know I'm long overdue for an update, and I have lots of fun pictures to share once I get myself organized (whenever that may be...). For now, I want to share two beautiful paintings from an artist who is completely new to me, Laurence Amelie: 

I just came across the paintings of Laurence Amelie and I LOVE them! I'm wishing I could read French so I could learn more about her - from what I can tell she hasn't gotten much American press. Can anyone tell me anything else about her?

Map art

I love when people decorate with maps (well done Lydia in the recent Pottery Barn catalog!) And I love it when people get creative with other ways to use maps, like Jason LaFerra who created the images below. Each of his pieces are made completely out of historical maps from one area. 

My favorite is the Japanese crane, which Jason just made out of maps of Japan. All of the proceeds from the purchase of the Japanese crane print go to support relief efforts in Japan through the Red Cross. You can check out Jason's shop here.

California, I love you

Yes, I do. 

San Francisco Shower

I've got lots to catch up on! Over the past month, I've been gone three out of four weekends, and I'm just about to leave San Francisco for three weeks on Saturday.

There are lots of exciting times both behind me and ahead of me, and I'm so busy running around like a crazy woman that I haven't been documenting any of them. 

I decided that I'm just going to slowly do a little bit of life catch-up on this blog, starting with pictures from a lovely little dinner party shower that my friends threw for me a few weeks ago. 

Caitlyn, Katy, and me before dinner. Please notice Lydia's works of art in the background - portraits of roommates and friends by making their hairstyles with cut out cardstock. 

Becca the amazing chef!

Catching up in the living room turned dining room for the night

Opening lots of fun gifts

Lydia Harter - what a hostess

Some of the girls

Thank you all for such a fun night! I felt so well loved and showered and celebrated.

Layers of Paint

(Photo by Amrita via The Share Bee.)

Bastille Day at the DeYoung

Speaking of Paris, last night Caitlyn and I went to a Bastille Day party at the DeYoung. It was amazing! Not only did we meet people in powdered wigs, hoop skirts, and even one old woman wearing nothing but lingerie, but we also got to enjoy endless macaroons, truffles, breads, cheeses, and open bars. We tried absinthe (woof!) and heard about where you can get a Marie Antoinette gown made on short notice. And, on top of all of that, we got to see the Birth of Impressionism exhibit from the Musee d'Orsay. This is most definitely going to be an annual event.

P.S. Unfortunately this picture was taken with my iPhone, but hopefully you can still get the picture of Caitlyn in all her fluted glory.

Nut!

Laura directed me to Dimdi, an artist who paints adorable watercolors. Not sure if Jonny will agree that we need this watercolor of Nut for a central location in our new apartment, but it's going to happen.

EA Seguy

My great-grandmother had two big books of EA Seguy prints - Insectes and Papillons. By some great blessing, both of those books of print have come into my possession. I'm doing my best to work the prints into my apartment decor (even though I can't afford to have anything framed right now.) Here are four of the prints that hang above my bed:


I was just reminded of the unique value of these old prints when reading through the recent post on Design Sponge. Love me some EA Seguy!