Happy, Happy Summer!

"Summer set lip to earth's bosom bare,

And left the flushed print in a poppy there"

~ Francis Thompson

I'm still breathing... deeply and fully. (;

Enjoying the song of this splendid season. I have temporarily put aside my favourite toys to savour this dreamy and magical time of year. I will be out and about this season, so I wish everyone's summer to be filled with beauty, love and light.

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart... Namasté!

(Image from my retreat on Mayne Island)

My Breathing Space Continues...

Enjoying the view from the cabin deck at low tide...

Oh the peace and quiet and solace of nature... the poetry of Earth.

Good tidings! I am still on mini-vacation (tis so hard to tear myself away from this sanctuary splendour)

Will be back soon... I promise!!

A Branch of Treasures

Fun, whimsical display made from dried tree branch and paper clips to hold favourite photos and treasures...
Idea from Pottery Barn

Sol Sugar

"When people see my work I would like them to smile, to be filled with a rush of warmth that causes their cheeks to turn pink, to giggle…

I want them to feel alive with colour"

Dazzling acrylic paintings by Brandy Saturley of Sol Sugar Designs here in Victoria... I showcased some of her colourful, curvaceous pieces from her Toe collection awhile back.
Literally a neighbour of mine (James Bay... yah!!), Brandy's art is incredibly vibrant and full of exquisite detail. She is inspired by the ocean and the colour blue which resonates as a dance of rigorous patterns throughout her pieces. So lively and whimsical... I adore her work.

Kozai

Soft ambient Japanese lights from Kozai Designs in Vancouver on West 6th Avenue.
Designer Toshiyuki Tani has developed a very contemporary line of gorgeous lights utilizing traditional Japanese woodcraft techniques. His Wappa series of pendant and floor lamps employ bent cedar from Akita in northern Japan. The Mocoro table lamp is a cylinder of soft ambient light nestled within a layered globe of turned Japanese hemlock disks. And his newest light, the very delicate Sen, is hand-built from many hundreds of tiny strips of bamboo by traditional bamboo craftsmen in Shizuoka prefecture.
Top: Sen Table Lamp, Kazaguruma (Pinwheel) Pendant/Floor Lamp, Shuriken (Ninja Star), Hanabi (Fireworks), and Mocoro Table Lamp

Fan Tan Fabulous

This is by far one of the most amazing stores I have ever stepped foot in... Fan Tan Gallery located in Victoria's historic Chinatown, just steps away from the famous 5-foot-wide Fan Tan Alley. Bette Patrick and her son Alan are the shopkeepers and maintain a superb home décor store. I don't think I have ever seen a more remarkable merchandise display that changes *weekly* (see a post I did back in February showcasing some fabulous examples).
It is always a treat to stop in for a browse whenever I go for a pitterpatter downtown. And Coal the gorgeous cat is sure to greet you at the door, or at the cash register (sooo darling!).

Breathing Space

Nothing exists until or unless it is observed...

Tis the weekend... relax, and enjoy a view furnished by Nature.

Image from Tropical Houses

Happy, Happy Swiftsure Weekend!

Swiftsure Weekend is here!
The 64th annual Swiftsure International Yacht Race starts this morning off the tip of Clover Point in Victoria...
With over 250 boats and up to 140 miles to sail, it is one of North America’s most challenging overnight offshore competitions.
What a sight!!

Beth Dunlop

Awe-inspiring art from local Victoria talent Beth Dunlop...
She specializes in watercolor & pen works and creates a style of her own that is imaginative, ethereal, and gloriously emotive. Inspired by the beauty of nature, the power of love, and the splendour of our being, Beth's creations are truly breathtaking...

From That to This

The weekend is near, the season is here... time to go treasure hunting!
I love how this vintage hotel lobby key box finds new life as a mailbox system.
From Pottery Barn

For the Love of a Summer Dress and a Happy Horse

Nothing spells summer like a gorgeous, flowy dress and a majestic, handsome horse... two of my favourite things!
Together?... well, why not?
I love these stunning designs from the spring/summer collection of Vancouver clothing company DACE
(from top: Lucky, Rocket, Maisie... names of the clothing pieces not horses!)

Jenna Rose

I adore these Jenna Rose pillow covers, storage bags and (my personal favourite) ottomans --like the Granville above-- created by talented Canadian designer Jenna Greenberg. Available at Mooncruise Gallery in Vancouver...

Time is of the Essence

Captivating AIGA/DC fundraising clock designed by Canadian artist Marion Bantjes... glorious and whimsical

A Moment with Nature

A couple of darling ducks and a drake... our aquatic, waddling Mallard friends downtown Victoria.
How does it go again? Happy as a duck near water.
Or be like a duck.... Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath (;

The Very Pink of Perfection

Softness, affection, innocence, and love...
Hues of carnation, fuchsia, cherry blossom, magenta, lavender rose, puce, amaranth, cerise.
Oh the beauty and bliss of being tickled pink...

House Beautiful
(top) Style at Home
At Home with Color
House Beautiful
Steven Miller
Canadian House & Home
Madeline Stuart
At Home with Color
Drake Design
Mrs. Me Bedtime Stories
House Beautiful

Normal Room
Robin Pellisier
Shootfactory
Tom Scheerer
Ghislaine Viñas
Living Etc
Kelley Interior Design
Continentale in Florence
Jane Churchill
Jan Showers
Ikea
Ghislaine Viñas
Artus Hotel
Jeffrey P Elliott
Manuel Canovas
Boligtorvet
Betsey Johnson
Better Homes and Gardens
Home Cheap Home
Living Etc
Country Homes & Interiors

Steven Miller
House Beautiful
Miles Redd
Shootfactory
Ruthie Sommers & Chapman Radcliff