Ceramica Blue - Chantal Cesure

I came across this talented artist this morning on Pinterest. Her use of blue and white glaze on stoneware, with fine lines and patterns make her ceramics simply stunning and intriguing.

Inspiration from nature

Her work is showcased at the Mostra Gallery in Moustiers France, curated by  Sylvie Alès.

The Mòstra de l'Estela, situated close to the Roman church in one of Moustiers’ quiet alleyways, is a haven of calm lit by the beauty of the ceramics, the work of craftsmen, of artists. The village of Moustiers is a natural and ideal place to visit after an adventure in the gorges of the Verdon or after bathing in the soothing waters of the Sainte Croix lake.

Moustiers Sainte-Marie is located at the entrance of the gorges du Verdon, the deepest canyon in Europe. The geographical location is a major tourist attration for the village. The beautiful turquoise waters and wild natural landscape makes it a hub for artists as the natural beauty provides instant inspiration and colour lust.

www.moustiers.fr

The eternal countryside in the foothills of the Cévennes, nature quivering on Chantal’s earthenware, ever present. 

In her words “I work at my ceramic creations as one would put together a clothes collection.”

For a long time she made fabric and cloth, a world away from ceramics but one that she still cherishes and which does not cease to inspire her. The passion of flowers, of plants, the life that gave birth to the roses, iris and ipomoea, eglantines and peonies on the soft, satin-like enamel of her first creations.

http://www.mostra-moustiers.com/en/introduction.php

Today, beautiful pieces in stoneware adorned with batik or the triumphant indigo of “tie-dye”, revealing her fascination with Africa. “I am exploring blue slowly, wanting to play with its different facets and cultures in my own way”.

Poetry surrounds this artist as she signs her pieces, “Louis Louise émoi”.

Source - http://www.mostra-moustiers.com/en/introduction.php

Saturday Swoon - Formentera

It's Saturday again and I just cant keep away from Formentera!

 One of the smallest and most southerly Balearic Islands  (Spain), its most famous for its beautiful crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. Cars are generally a no-no and most people get around this tiny island with bicycles or on foot.

Multi- leveled terraces and wooden decking to link the house to the pool creates a laid back and soft feel.

 Casa (house in Spanish) Rita was a former farm in the countryside of Cap de Barberia, and was converted in 2008. It  lies on an enormous field plot surrounded by multi-level terraces and a spectacular pool area with views to the sea.


It is a traditional Spanish finca and retains most of the original elements such as wooden beams and fireplaces. Although this conversion was almost 4 years ago, the feel is still contemporary as a timeless classic has been created with the use of  a neutral and natural backdrop working around the orginal features.

Colour is introduced with the use of bold textile accessories and the theme can be updated without much expense.

 Old  furniture has been upcyled to produce a truly rustic Spanish feel. Small injections of colour such as the green bottles and yellow armrests on the chairs create enough interest and variation to lead your eye around the room.

  The living room features a large fireplace with an upstairs loft and a door that connects to the outside.

Interior spaces are open to the exterior with the use of large windows which invite beautiful sea views and cool breezes from the ocean.

 The combination of all the rustic elements juxtaposed with bold use of colour and texture makes this Mediterranean Villa  the perfect holiday getaway. Housing 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, Casa Rita promotes a feeling of of rest and revitalisation.

Something BLUE,  simple rustic painted furniture against a smooth light concrete floor keeps the space open and leads the eye outside.

The typical  Mediterranean use of plastered walls and beamed ceilings; combined with the use of wood furnishings and concrete flooring give this home a modern yet rustic feel. Colour is introduced with the use of beautiful textiles and traditional tiling creating a modern look that can be updated without much expense as time goes on.

The kitchen is minimalist and rustic at the same time, using upcylced timber panelling to add warmth and rustic charm to an otherwise modern space..

Bedrooms are kept minimal and interesting textiles define the otherwise neutral background. Large windows and doors bring in lots of light and link the interior to the outside naturally.

Most old Spanish houses have some patterned tiling, working with the design using textiles and furniture will add character and old charm naturally.

Relaxing reading corner bringing in bolts of modern flavour and a new colour theme to create an adult sitting area.

Dining al fresco.......during the long summer most dining takes place outside under a covered porch. Here the reads over the wooden beams create an easy living style that is also a reflection and continuation of the table. The addition of a modern, yet organic lighting connects the two elements to reflect modern rustic living.

Photography - Jordi Canosa

Happy 4th of July!

To all my American readers, hope you are having a lovely 4th of July celebration!

Passion Seeds - my thoughts on blogging

the coolest blog goodies.. shabbyblogs.com

 Its 2am in the morning.

The village is silent and the hot air has cooled down a few degrees inviting a lovely fresh breeze. The doors and windows flung wide open as I sit at my sweet new desk in low light, banging away at the keyboard. This is where I am most days now, and my children have started to take advantage of the situation, as they come to ask me for ice- cream, knowing that if they pester enough while I’m working, I will eventually cave in. 

 I’m drifting around in my costume and sarong, my outfit of choice for the last few weeks as summers come early this year, welcomed by a heatwave.

 Its school holidays and I’ve been living in laa-laa land flitting around the globe getting to meet all my fellow BYW classmates, blissfully free from the normal school runs and motherly commitments;  giving me a few extra hours each day to learn more.

 The last two days of dry hot heat took me by surprise and held me captive indoors & lethargic, unable to work, unable to respond and unable to care.

 I’ve got an illustration to finish for one of my new friends from BYW and I start to feel slightly like I’ve let myself down {again} as its not finished yet. Normally I would bash myself up, but this time it feels different, as somehow I know they all understand.

I think about all the support and encouragement and enjoy the fact that I have met many lovely people along  the way, all the positive feedback and a sense of kindered spirit.

I try not to beat myself up and put things in perspective.. My thoughts turn first to a fellow BYW student in Colorado. She has been held ransom by a forest fire, watching hopelessly as her surrounding community  burns to the ground, threatening her family and testing her inner strength. 

She posted a statement of her current situation on the BYW Facebook page and has been inundated with good wishes and support, and is in everyone’s thoughts. She is sitting at home with her family, car stocked with treasured possessions and ready to leave at any second. I think about how tired and hot she must be, concerned for her children, being strong for the family.  They must be frightened like hell for the force of nature is like no other and no man is above it. 

I think about the lady who recently become one of my new likes on my fb page through BYW,  appealing to everyone to share a  missing child poster. I felt compelled to help her out when she reached out to the Chicago community to spread the photo of the missing girl {which was the daughter of her friend.}. and it worked, she was found.

Living in a time when social technology affects and interacts with your daily life, we need to become aware of the impact it has on our emotional happiness and remember to keep things in perspective, seeing it for what it really is and adding the correct amount of importance to it.

The internal questions never cease. Is it a hobby or a career? Is it an addiction? ? Is it time to relax a bit and ease the pressure of daily posts? Or should you just step away and  push the DELETE BLOG button?? 

The essence of blogging for me is like a journey of discovery. Quitting should never be an option, for if what you are blogging about touches your true purpose or passion, you are on the right track.

As we all walk forward adventurously and face the cyber world {that has the potential to swing either way}, being prepared and open to new encounters allow like minded people to connect and interact.

 Blogging in America has already become a massive commercial industry. With the likes of characters such Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City” providing the stylish prototype of a role model, it’s as fashionable as Jimmy Choo’s and millions are doing it. Ladies such as  “Miss Mustard Seed” and “Holly Becker “ are household names, and their success is envied and copied by thousands who blog.   

The temptation to compare yourself with others is only natural and sometimes brings out the insecurities that many bloggers suffer from.

the gorgeous Holly Becker from Decor8

I believe successful Blogging is not about a topic, its a passion seed, a key to meeting a community of like minded people  from all over the globe. Whether you blog about Interiors, different kinds of butterflies  or Harley Davidson’s, its all about passion. 

I guess all bloggers have an adventurous spirit.  I like to seek out, my eyes alone provide with me enough stimulation and creativity, that even if I lived to 300, I would never run out of things to get excited about, documenting the experience and exploring your interests to lead you to the path you should be on.

Exploration is a very broad and evocative word but its not in the deed, but in the spirit, that leads me forward and takes me further and further into the understanding of fellow human beings and also myself.

All I can say is that Blogging your way has changed my perspective. Even though I’m still a freshman on the block.........I feel like I’ve arrived at the destination I feel comfortable with. It's somewhere I can truly be myself and indulge in my inner passions, not feeling pressure to conform, but instead create something special that I love most.

anthropologie addict........

 I don’t follow all the rules and Ive already got a bollicking from Miss Tartine Gourmande (so deserved it!,,,please visit her BEAUTIFUL site at http://www.latartinegourmande.com/,,,,) but I get carried away, usually in the middle of the night and promise myself I will do all the other stuff in the morning,, and then life takes over,, and it starts all over again.. I will get there eventually.  I don’t blog every day, but it doesn’t matter to me, as long as it stays fun I will be continuing on.

I have big dreams and this small blog has been the stepping stone into realising my ambitions and gaining the confidence to walk ahead and carry on. I guess I should just keep this blog private and use it as a personal journal, but the connection to the outside world, is what keeps it alive.

Saturday Swoon - Dordoyne, France

When you hear the word shabby, France immediately springs to mind. Saturated by beautiful old manor houses and cottages, its a dream location to live the shabby dream, or just visit to scour the many markets and snap up some truly original French fares.

The old farmhouse

This couples story seems similar to ours, when a spontaneous trip abroad changed their paths forever. Being city slickers from London they were taken by suprise when they fell in love with the French countryside on a work weekend getaway.

She being a pharmacist and him a builder, they were city dwellers that had no inclination to move again. The trip away changed their paths forever. They fell in love with the simplicity of farm life and healthy living.  They bought a run down old farmhouse with tower and barn and started to live their dream.

 Built in the early 18 century the house is bursting with character and typical French features. The stone walls and floors, beautiful fireplaces are all original and restored features. Modern additions have been kept to a minimal and come in the form of products such as the bathroom fittings and kitchen etc.

The orginal fireplace and beams create the focal points for this gorgous sitting room.

Textures and colours mix easily and the tone of the entire house is calm and relaxed. Beautiful French finds from markets sit along side family heirlooms and the style is totally original.

The exposed beams and pale grey wooden floors provide a perfect base from which to work from.

Perfect entertainment for rainy afternoons!

 The interior has been loving restored and decorated with a slightly more grown up and realistic shabby feel, giving it warmth and a real lived in feeling.

A touch of blue to add a bit of character and colour..

An old chest provides a sweet table for a reading corner

Sererne and easy to maintain!

The modern bath fits perfectly with the original stone inset shelf, just lovely!

One of the many bedrooms, simple farmhouse style. Old suitcases provide clever storage and add to the shabby feel.

The girls bedroom is feminine and stylish with old Victorian bedframes and an antique rocking horse.

The colour palette in the kitchen remains neutral even with the addition of modern elements.

The kitchen has a modern feel as the chairs and units are new but it does not interupt the farmhouse feel as items are chosen wisely to inject some interest and colours are kept in form with the surrounds.

This modern fireplace does not look out of place and provides the burst of heat that is needed to warm a massive stone building such as this.

An old chalkboard provides the perfect solution for the coat rack.

Simple and stylish

  The farm has also been restored to its former glory and is now a thriving business, being totally organic and boasting cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, two ponies, pheasants and pigeons! All their produce is farmed ecologically and no chemicals are used at all.

Photography by Brent Darby

Something Blue.....

 

Its one of those days here on the island.

The crickets are singing in the heat of the afternoon, its too hot to venture outside and most of us have retreated indoors for an afternoon nap.

Clothes have been replaced by bikini's and sarongs......
Duvets now packed away and replaced by thin sheets.......

 Children run naked all day as they dip in and out of the pool's cool waters; and keep up  the routine right until the sun sets at 9 or 10pm......and then its pool lights on for a moonlight dip!

All meals move outside under the porch and exotic fruits fill the fridge.

 Ive been using the kids nap times {ie passed out in front of Toy Story} to catch up on my collage practice....this is my first attempt at everything summery at my very favourite online store, anthropologie.com

Alfresco dining at anthropologie

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Saturday Swoon - Formentera

This gorgeous holiday home belongs to the uber interior  stylist Daniela Cavestany who is married to my all time favourite interior photographer Jordi Canosa.

 It is their personal holiday home on the island of Formentera, Balearic Islands. If you fancy a slice of paradise, you'd better start saving up, as this beauty is available for short lets directly from the owners Daniela Cavestany & Jordi Canosa  {Daniela@bydaniela.com}

The neutral palette of white washed walls and ceilings is offset beautifully against the concrete floors to create a calming and relaxing interior.

This home totally sums up her incredible talent of combining rustic elements to create a truly bohemian but modern style. Her tones are muted but items are carefully chosen to enliven and enrich with texture and colour.

Something Old, something New....a little old table has been given a shabby inspired face lift to break and warm the otherwise modern surroundings.

A collection of personal items breaks up the calm and adds a bit of interest and personal sentiment to the room.

A collection of old beach picnic baskets makes for perfect storage in an otherwise simple room.

A subtle hint of colour in the sheer curtains and a collection of sun hats emanates pure holiday living!

Clever storage softened with curtains to add movement.

I love her use of interesting and ethnic textiles and materials to add a special richness. A collection of rustic old crates and baskets are typically Spanish accessories to add a cultural element and grown up shabby style.

 Her mauve and natural palette is original and comforting and a refreshing change from the usual blue and white holiday theme {cant believe I just said that but my home is filled with mauve too, one of my all time favourite colours to live with every day}

The combination of these two talents  weave pure magic!

Photography - Jordi Canosa

Styling - Daniela Cavestany

Suncream & Sandcastles

summer loving in Ibiza

 Well, the day has finally arrived............. as I sent my middle son off to school this morning, it would be the last time for quite a while.

Today school breaks up for the summer holidays, almost 3 months of beautiful hot sunshine, picnics on the beach, ice-creams and sandcastles; and the smell of tropical sunscreen defining the season!

Es Trenc beach in Mallorca

Blue & white calm

aquamarine water, cleansing the soul!

cousins in the attic for afternoon naps!

 Last night as I sat sipping white wine with two good friends from the village, we compiled a summer Mallorcan bucket list of things we want to do this holiday. I cannot believe how one island can provide you with so much inspiration, beauty and activities.

Hoping to do a bucket list post for all the cool things to do in Mallorca by the weekend!

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing summer!