Somethings for the weekend

Just some little things I like that I thought you might like too. Happy Friday!

ONE // Our coasters have served us well, but they're looking more than a little battleworn after 7 years of service and these UK designed and made laser cut felt numbers by Donna Wilson (£14) are the front runners to replace them. I love that they look like doilies.

TWO // This actual gold and actual diamond bunny ring from Katie Hillier (£395) would represent a significant step up from my usual high street costume jewellery, but still. SO. CUTE. *Adds to Lotto list*

THREE // These brass sea urchins from US store Furbish are giving me The Wants and would look great mounted on the wall in our hallway. But since they're no longer available (and, er, I wouldn't spend a hundred quid plus shipping on them anyway) I'm brainstorming ways to DIY something similar.

Somebody pass me a paperclip, an elastic band, and a dodgy-looking bomber jacket STAT so I can get my MacGyver on!

FOUR // Last autumn I spent a small fortune on a faux leather sleeveless dress from Oasis, which was completely stupid because (a) I couldn't really afford it, (b) it didn't fit me properly, and (c) I had to spend all winter trying to find layers that would work under or over it so that I wouldn't freeze.

While I'm still a big fan of the leather look, this season I'll be sticking with more versatile separates on my bottom half that should be easier to integrate into my existing wardrobe. I've seen Penneys' / Primark's PU skirt (£8) in person and it looks plain awesome rather than plastic-y (which is probably why there were none left in my size the day I spotted it.)

FIVE // You might not know this about me, but I love stationary. I also love highlighters and products that look kind of like animals, so needless to say these adorable Paperchase bear highlighters (only £3!) are right up my street.

What's on your lust list at the moment?

Suits you, Barbie.

I was gobsmacked when I saw Charlotte's photo of this original vintage Barbie at The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

And not just because her sunglasses are awesome. 

{photo credit & source: Charlotte @ Lipglossiping}

She's wearing one of the swimsuits I ogled a couple of weeks ago! (Except, y'know, in a more teeny tiny incarnation.)

Then I came across this photo of the Barbie Malibu Dream House by Jonathan Adler. Look very closely at the mirror above the fireplace and tell me what you see.

{source: Jonathan Adler}

Would a close-up help?

{source: telegraph.co.uk} 

Jesus. Ok, that's more than a little creepy. But I'm pretty sure the universe is trying to tell me that I need a black and white chevron striped one-piece in my life.

Now, If the universe could just see fit to send the hundred-odd quid that Go Get Retro and Etsy seller ThomThom Vintage are charging for such an item my way, we'd be laughing.

You look *lovely* today.

{image source: keep calm gallery}

And I'm not just trying to keep you on side because posting's been so light lately.

Honest.

Mais oui!

{all images from the Dior website}

I love these bits of bling from Dior.

What perfect placeholders* for An Actual Engagement Ring, representing the hopes of the proposer and the opportunity for the proposee to pick out one she'll actually want to wear for the rest of her life.

Well, they're a bit more elegant than a jelly ring, like...


* Yes, I said placeholders. I'm a high-maintenance sort of bird, y'know.

Ben de Lisi's canine lamp: the dog's danglies or bullology?

I can't quite make up my mind about this French bulldog lamp by Ben de Lisi for Debenhams (€56).

On one hand, it's got a decidedly Abigail Aherne/Jonathan Adler-esque feel, but without the price tag associated with either of those designers.

On the other, I don't think the lovely idea of turning de Lisi's pet Ella into a lamp has been perfectly executed. The shade sits a little too high, exposing way too much of its silver stand for my tastes, and the base is seriously super shiny, which looks a bit cheap-y, although I'm told she's a proper stunna In Real Life. 

Still, there's no getting away from the fact that the eyes look a little strange. I bet she could bend you to her will no bother.

What do you reckon? Love it or leave it?

Wantsies: Wall Mounted Vases

I just came across these framed wall vases on Apartment Therapy and had to show them to you.

Aren't they gorgeous? They live in the home of AT:LA (Apartment Therapy Los Angeles) contributor Beth Zeigler and I wants them so bad.

Well. Them, and the frame, and the peony roses.

Pleaseandthankyouvermuchmwah.

I'm now going to show you the space in Beth's home that they occupy, but be prepared for some desk (and lamp) envy.

You have no idea how much work I would (probably) get done if I had a desk with star handles like this.


Images: Beth Zeigler, Apartment Therapy

Sets & The City: Carrie & Big's Apartment

Now, I'll warn you right this minute that this post is going to be image heavy, but I was really taken with the set design in Sex And The City 2, and Carrie and Big's apartment in particular.

Here's a gallery of stills of the apartment set - a house tour of sorts - for you to feast your eyes on!  

The closet/dressing room is, needless to say, fantastic, but I particularly love all the wallpaper, the butterfly terranium (a 19th century antique) on the console in the entryway, and the built-in bookcases in the... would you call it a foyer? As for the blue pouf (it's the Lola ottoman by Anne Kyyro Quinn) and the wall-mounted lamps in the living room, well, suffice to say wantsies. 

I wasn't mad about the bedroom, really, nor was I gone on the "Moroccan" corner and flowery curtains in the living room, but hey. I would still totally move in here in the morning.
 

Images via Elle Decor, InStyle, NY Daily News, Architectural Digest, Sex And The City 2, and Marks & Frantz

In which Steve Jobs makes me cry a little.

Pic via the Apple website

But of course Apple would launch iPhone 4.0 within 2 months of me buying the older version. I should have seen this coming: they came out with the iPod nano almost immediately after I got an iPod mini. 

I must really have ticked Steve Jobs off in a previous existance.

As you can tell from the pic above, the new iPhone will be available in white - properly white, I mean, with a white front as well as rear. GAH!!! The black on the front of my "white" 3GS is taunting me as I type this. 

It's apparently 24% thinner than the 3GS, and is flatter, too - it actually reminds me quite a lot of my old Sony Ericsson w890i, which I loved dearly. The camera's up to 5 megapixels from 3, with an LED flash added, and there's a front facing camera for video calling (meh.) 

Oh, and there's an extra mic, which might help to make the speaker function on the iPhone actually usable. 

No release date confirmed here yet, as far as I know, but in Steve's address it looked like 4.0 will be hitting these shores sometime in July. 

God. I really wish I'd dithered for a few more months and held off on my iPhone purchase until the summer.

Nellie the elephant: An unlikely design icon

It's a bit of a strange one, but I've been really drawn to white elephant-shaped teapots of late. 

Yeh, I know. Random.

The specimen above is a Jonathan Adler number that's priced at a massive $110...

... while this little guy clocks in at £15.

And hey, they're not just good for pouring tea - how cute does this one look masquerading as a makeshift vase over in Nicole's gaff?

via Making It Lovely

Cath who?

For a long time, your only woman for cool printed oilcloth was Cath Kidston. And while some of her designs are things your granny wouldn't dream of putting on her table (pink with white stars, mar shampla) at its heart I always feel this is a cottage cool, shabby chic kind of brand and actually lots of the designs are likely to have major gran appeal.

So if Cath Kidston's a bit too twee for your tastes, you can now opt for something decidedly more kitsch. Flamingo print oilcloth, anyone..?

I can come up with no use for oilcloth in my own gaff (suggestions on a postcard) but here are some more of the new-for-SS10 offerings from Rice for your viewing pleasure:

Clicky here for details of Rice stockists in Ireland.

I can haz summer now, yes?

I know, I know. One swallow doesn't make a summer. Cast ne'er a clout til May be out. But the weather has been so incredibly gorgeous for the last couple of days that I can't help but get a bit giddy about it and, er, eyeball nice outdoors-y things.

I have a couple of these cream Moroccan-stylee lanterns dotted around the gravel border that cast fab intricate shadows across the back garden when lit at night, and since my solar powered LEDs for the trees have given up the ghost I'm thinking a few lads like these would look fairly sweet strung up in the branches:

Pix via Not On The High Street & Clayton Gray Home

Pix via Not On The High Street & Crocus

Later on in the summer when the flowers have gone off the trees, they could do double duty as mini hanging vases like these during the day:

Source

Wouldn't this mirrored agapanthus from Susan Bradley look fab in a courtyard garden?

Sadly, this pink parasol suits neither my cream and green garden furniture nor my wallet with its £165 price tag, but it is oh so pretty and The Indian Garden Company are offering free EU-wide delivery for a limited time if you're feeling flush:

Or maybe sail shades are more your thing?

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Not sure how comfortable slatted metal folding chairs would be In Real Life, but I just love these French bistro sets:

Source

Considering the fence needs to be stained this year, a large number of our plants didn't survive the winter, and the grass is in ribbons courtesy of the dog tearing it to shreds, I may be getting just a little bit ahead of myself looking at nice garden accessories.

Now, where's me secateurs?

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