Is Spring here yet?

I am sure I heard on the radio that this weekend marks the beginning of spring, with that thought in mind I was imaging a beautiful weekend with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. Not quiet like that, so I'm turning to these beautiful spring coloured photos for inspiration, has spring arrived for you?

I was also tagged by the lovely n a t s u m i, who has the sweetest drawings. Some rules: step 1: Respond & rework-answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own. step 2: Tag-eight other un-tagged people. Now onto the questions:

What are you wearing now? navy jumper, black skinny jeans

How often do you blog? Everyday, spending around 2-5 hrs each day!

Who was the last person you hugged? My friend

Which item from your closet are you wearing most lately?My purple shirt/t-shirt top

What's for dinner? I just had pizza, yum!

What was the last thing you bought? well apart from food, a heart shaped red framed sunglasses

What are you listening to right now? nothing but I'm watching QI on BBC

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
To be Luphia! Luphia is actually the name of a fictional character of my favorite computer game since I was 10 (did I mention I'm a geek? :), a heroine and a goddess, more about her later...

What is your favorite weather, and why?
Early summer, when it's sunny and not so hot, around 25C.

What time do you usually get up? 8:10 am and running late most mornings for my 9am lectures

What is your most challenging goal right now? Trying to setup my little business! (nearly there...)

Say something to the person who tagged you: Her drawings are the cutest!

If you could have a house-totally paid for, fully furnished-anywhere in the world, where you want it to be?
That's a hard question! Unrealistically Paris or Venice! Realistically London or Bath.

Favorite vacation spot? Europe and China

Name the things you cannot live without:
So many! Family, friends, my laptop, internet, clothes shops!

What movies can you watch over and over?
All my fav movies are dramas hence a bit too sad to watch often but I do love Big Fish.

What is your favorite tea flavor? Earl Gray

and I am tagging: Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy ; Cafe Fashionista ; captivateme ; CHIC Sensibility ; Design Dig ; Dolce Chic ; GOSSIP STYLE VINTAGE official blog ; on dressing up ;

and the important news! The winner of the Paul & Joe makeup giveaway, drum roll please... ps: please turn your computer volumn down as somehow the background music (and seagull noises) became quite squeaky !

Congratulations Shini! I will contact you shortly for deliver address.

Don't be too disappointed, as there will be more giveaways this month, stay tuned! :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend my dearest readers, xx

(images 1st by toriginal others by Rebecca Thuss )

michele varian

Happy to have a little interview at Natalie's place today! Thank you for all of the kind words!

You must check out michele varian. This website is an amazing go-to site for all of those finishing touches to a room. I LOVE the metallics!! And how sweet is this ring?!
Do you love these warm metallics as much as I do this year? I loved these pieces as much I did this for my office...

jump up, jump up and get down

photo
What a great 2 weeks. I am so happy everyone like the new prints. It's one of a 3 big projects I am working on for 09 so I am thrilled that they are loved! I want to say thank you this week to :

Joanna
Jen
Caitlyn
Daniella
Leslie
Melissa
apt therapy / chicago
peonies & polariods
Holly
Natalie
Beth

I know that I couldn't do what I do without your support. Thank you. (If you posted and I don't know, email me , want to say thanks xo)
The week was so busy, I'll be working on the men's tees today. And this weekend I plan on cleaning up the office sprinkled in with some fashion illustration. I'll share everything on Monday.
I'll leave you today with my picks from shopbop.

Hooked on: Vintage Linen Pillows

{Ludwigas Linen}

I have always loved all things vintage, whether it's vintage clothes, vintage typewriters or my current love vintage linen. Their simple yet elegant designs speaks to my heart, and it is also eco-chic!

{Beyond France}

How about these beauties made from old grain sacks? I just adore the design!

{top left: Ernst and Thistle bottom right: Vintage Weave others: MFV53}

What do you all think my dearest readers, do these lovely pillows have a place in your home? :) Oh, I've also joined the Hooked on Friday party, check out what others are hooked on here.

Happy Friday! I will be back tomorrow for a post of the new series {Styling Luphia}, so if you get bored, you can always come and visit me in blogland? ;)

I wish I am in Paris, care to join me? Just look at the photos and imagine... xx

(fashion photos by Thomas Klementsson)

next place

I have been making some serious plans for my next place. I have been known to be extremely picky about furniture and color so I like to plan spaces in advance. My last home was very modern...
My next space I'd like to be the perfect mixture between old and new. Some old things and perfectly new things.
Every now and then I get a catalog from viva terra. Maybe this place will assist me in that old/new look.

From a Different Point of View

Shall we get straight to the point? Ok, here it is. I am old fashioned and I LOVE carpets, especially in the bedroom. They may not be the most trendy flooring option, but they're warm, soft and let's face it, UK is not a warm country so we need all the heat & dryness we can get!

I was recently introduced to this great new website Fun on the Floor, which has lots of inspiring ideas for carpet flooring, covering a wide range of looks in their lookbook, whether it's a boudoir or a minimalist style you love.

An idea or DIY your old chest of draws? How yummy is that shade of yellow!

Are you thinking about taking an office carbinet home? ;)

I love how these images focus on the floor so you can get a feel how different colours would work

there's plenty of inspiration for decoration ideas too, what a great idea to use an antique chest as a coffe table! Now I just need to find that $5 chest from a flee market, any suggestions? ;)

I don't usually post kids related things but how fun is this room!

This is my favorite room, I just love the vintage feel and books on the floor? I do that already :)

So what's your view on carpet? Just in the bedroom, living room or none at all? I'd love to hear what you think :) xx

(images Fun on the Floor)

Dreaming of a Studio like this

This little studio would be my perfect creative space, it would be located at an old factory converted building, with white floors and white painted brick walls,

filled with vintage finds and pretty objects

with a chaise longue for relaxing time while catching up on my favorite magazines, and the wall as the inspiration board, two vintage red phones sit on the table, one for business use, one for personal use, of course ;)

as for the guests? a wide selection of comfy sitting choices to choose from

If this were my creative studio, I think I'll never get out of here! :)

(image by Janne Peters)

selima for jcrew

Yes, we've noticed you selima-for-j.crew glasses. You're difficult to find, especially in the color I like, but I like you just the same.
Perfectly inspiring for today's work. Freddy&Ma liked my Geek Glasses so much that I'm working on some plates for them today. Here's to dweebs.

pretty pictures

I don't know when the last time I found myself in bebe was. 1) I don't find myself in clubs and don
t need the wardrobe to match and sometimes their storefronts, photos and matching rhinestone sweats are too much of a turn off for me to further explore the store.
I think their 2009 ad campaign might turn some heads. Pretty colors, flowers and ruffles. Someone give this photographer a raise.

{Beauty Tuesday}: Paul & Joe Review & Giveaway!

Hello dearest readers, I'm afraid there will be no Beauty Interview today, you're stuck with me instead but I do have a giveaway to make it up to you ;)

I am a huge fan of Paul & Joe Beauty products, not only do they have the most wonderful vintage packaging, the quality of the products doesn't disappoint either. This is an example where judging a "book" by its cover actually paid off for me! :)

Now onto the products review, I have only used a few of their products as they're not the cheapest and I have to get them from London or online. But whenever I want to treat myself I know just the brand that would do the trick.

1. Creamy Power Compact Foundation - this is more of a foundation than a pressed power as it is more mosied and gives better coverage, the power itself is really fine, on a similar level as a Dior or Chanel power foundation. The colours are flattering too.
2. Nail Enamel - lovely colours, long lasting (I always wear nail colours with base & top coats, it really makes it last much longer), and of course beautiful packaging!
3. Lip Gloss - I love the brush applicator in these lip glosses, the texture is also light as I don't really like heavy lip gloss.
4. Eye Colour - gorgeous colours, long lasting, I especially like the little mirror in each eye shadow case.

Overall, pushing the packaging aside, the Compact Foundation and Lip Gloss is better than the Nail Enamel & Eye Colour in comparision with other products I feel, but it is so hard not to fall for the sweet packaging... Ok, I'll stop talking about it ;)

Also you can get some really pretty computer wallpapers on their site, like this!

Now for the most exciting part - the Giveaway !

What's up for grabs? Two gorgeous Eye Colour in 18 (smokey grey) and 84 (grape), plus one Nail Colour in a gold/beige shimmer shade, total worth more than £35/$55! They'll all come with their pretty boxes too, i.e. all brand new but the grey shadow has been tested once by me as I was going to keep this for myself, but it turns out the colour is too similar to another eye colour I already have so I'm putting this in the giveaway too.

How to enter? Just leave a comment below stating your current favorite blog {apart from Luphia loves, just to make the choice harder for you ;) }.

I am also giving a little extra advantage to my lovely followers, if you left a comment below & also follows Luphia loves, you will get two entries in the prize draw, hence doubling your chances! So if you're not following Luphia loves yet, now maybe a good time? ;) The deadline is Friday 10pm GMT. Good luck!

{giveaway courtesy of a little business I'm currently working on, will reveal soon}

(images from Paul & Joe Beauté)

Gossip Girl Style

The title is a little misleading I suppose, this won't be on "the best outfits of Gossip Girl" since plenty of amazing bloggers have done this already, instead I'm presenting you a series of stunning photo shoots that resemble the Gossip Style, hope you won't be too disappointed ;)

If staying in education means going to a grand school built in the 19th century, wearing fabulous clothes and amazing heels, I think I may stay as a student forever! :)

Now on to a litte discussion about the Oscars red carpet, I have to say I was a little disappointed overall, sure there were lots of big fabulous gowns as always but I usually fall for the more colourful and chic dresses.

My favorite this year is Natalie Portman, I adore this girl to bits anyway so maybe a little biased, to me she's the perfect package as a young woman, beautiful (inside & out), intelligent, down to earth, stylish and care about important issues in this world. Evan Rachel Wood also looks very elegant in the Saab nude gown. Miley Cyrus's dress is a litte too much for me on the red carpet but if I was 5 again that mermaid dress would definitely be my fav! ;)

As mentioned yesterday I received three blog awards last week from these fantastic blogs: Captivate Me , Under Lock and Key and Pearls, Peonies, and Ponderings. Now it's the time to pass them on! See I'm doing a mini "Blog Oscars" myself ;) , I have way too many favorites so this time I'm going to concentrate mostly on some new fabulous blogs that I discovered recently!

Your Blog is Fabulous! goes to *Felinofelice , camilla at home , la couturier & Mademoisselle Chic

I {heart} your blog goes to Creme de la Mode , D!RTY LAUNDRY , Daisy Pink Cupcake , FRENCH ESSENCE , Hooked on Houses , january & Make Room for Living

Proximidade award goes to The Drifter and the Gypsy , :: Lime in the Coconut :: , Design Dig , Diamondcanopy , essenceanddesire , Fashionably Early , GOSSIP STYLE VINTAGE , two ellie , Eyes of Me & A Wedding Cabaret

Forgot to say earlier, who's on your best dressed list from the Oscars?

(photo shoots by Baldovino Barani, red capet images from oscar.com)