{take me away № 13 | a wintry escape}

An alabaster, wintry frost hardly seems like the warmest of welcomes, but the magic of the icy snow that glistens like diamonds layered upon diamonds, encompasses guests and the glow of an intoxicating combination of warm and cool lights, and the intrigue of the lines and carvings, without a doubt fades any perceptions of a cold reception.





And so it is, the gentle and hushed spell of winter has been cast, and for a short time, we see snow itself in a whole new and beautiful light . . .

CONTINUE ---------------------------------->

{two lovely things: golden shades of autumn}

. . . nearly november, and there has been overcast skies, blustery, leaf-strewn winds, and bouts of rain, and so, to brighten these last october days, golden artwork and gilded accents, warm white cable knits and sun-soaked high-waisted trousers, and it's off to the flower markets for as many bouquets as one can possibly carry . . .

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recent two lovely things
* ponytails & polka dots
* a place for everything
* lace & leopard print
* ruggedly refined
* green & white
* open shelves & elegant black
* perfectly mismatched


{images: framing spaces & hanneli; outfit: miu miu collar, ralph lauren cable knit sweater, screaming mimi's high-waisted trousers}

{work of art: photographic still lifes}

. . . while the worlds of décor and fashion often collide here, every once in a while, the intermingling of fashion and art, such as the glimpses of of paolo roversi's ethereal, painterly work, and now, michele gastel's photographic still life, naturalistico, an artful arrangement of fashion accessories and everyday objects, resulting quiet captures of beautiful moments in time . . .















{images: photographic still life by michele gastel for the february issue of italian amica via life is a puzzle & the terrier & the lobster}

{favourite five: artist michelle armas}

Beauty without colour seems somehow to belong to another world."

~ Lady Murasaki

Colour affects emotions, design, art, and trends; it dictates our fashion, changes our mood and it epitomizes so many, many things without the need for words. Ruby red lipstick can be worn to signify ardent love and desire; pink blush conjures romantic rendezvous, and a bouquet of yellow daffodils can be given to symbolize friendship . . .



. . . lavender candles in a powder room can symbolize femininity, grace and elegance; a black evening gown that flows in the moonlight can represent sophistication and style, and the colour of a string of heirloom pearls worn on a wedding day is said to represent marriage.

Colour has its own language and painters are its masters.



Michelle Armas, an Atlanta-based artist, doesn’t simply paint with colours, she fuses colours with thoughts, blending magic to canvas -- each whimsical brushstroke takes your mind away to almost a heightened state of being and awareness, as you follow the light she creates through colour in paintings that have the power to light up a room.



By profession a graphic designer & illustrator, Michelle began painting to break away from the structure of work, but she says that ”the longer I paint, the more structured and narrative my work becomes.” Like many artists, Michelle’s design education began before she entered the classroom, making arts and crafts with her father at home, everything from clothes for her dolls to oil portraits.





Through her blog, Michelle offers a glimpse into the mind of an artist, and the motivations behind some of her loveliest works. This week, we sat down with her to talk about:

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{the top five things that inspire her work:}

1. Day dreaming.
I pretty much fantasize about beautiful things all day long, and then I think oh wow, wouldn't a lavender and dark green something be the best . . . off to paint!

2. Fashion.
The prints! The proportions! The drama! I am recently drawn to spare, modern clothes in the perfect shade of black, blue or grey, and it is making me want to do paintings with less color, and softer compositions and lots of nice clean space.

3. Travel.
I love to see what other people are wearing, how stores in different cities do window displays, the light and the sky and the ocean in places that are not land-locked Atlanta . . . even the trees, the colors of leaves. I am going to California soon, and I am super excited to look at some cool new plants!

4. Food.
I just made an almond yogurt cake with blue berries and peaches on the top, and when I took the layer of parchment off, the colors were so stunning! I love the color of cooked blueberries, and that purple blue next to the soft orange of the peach was super cool.

5. The Ottoman Empire.
Yup, those people knew how to do a mosaic, and how to use color. Wow, one, maybe two colors, in the most amazing, stunning, geometric splendor you have ever seen. I am researching right now to start painting a bunch of portraits, and I can't stop adding details that I have seen in mosaics.

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{images: paintings by michelle armas, all other images from once wed: one & two}

{favourite five: artist kimia kline}

Whether she is sipping café au lait in Paris, studying fine art in Madrid, or on a long-afternoon drive through lavender fields in Northern California, artist Kimia Kline continually draws inspiration from the stunningly beautiful things that surround her.

The artist's use of light brushstrokes and soft color schemes -- blushing rose, taupe, ivory, lilac & amaranth -- create the sense of morning sunlight peeking through lacy curtains and evoke thoughts of lazy afternoon picnics on sandy beaches.





Kimia's paintings have been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Candystore Collective and the Swell Gallery, both in San Francisco, as well as in art exhibitions all over the world. She has won international acclaim, and was the winner of the NYAXE Gallery competition in 2009, and a national exhibition, 12"x12", at the Todd Gallery in 2010.



Kimia has had the dream-like opportunity to experience living in many countries around the world, places like Spain, Israel, the US, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Japan and Namibia, and in a few weeks, she will be moving to India for her next chapter; each place has influenced her paintings in a thousand and one ways, and this week, she reveals her:

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{five favourite inspirations for painting & drawing from around the world}

1. During our honeymoon to Thailand, we visited the flower market in Bangkok. It was one of the most vibrant places I've ever seen. Flowers have always been a source of inspiration for me, and I constantly find myself going back to these photos.

2. During a homestay in Madrid, I came across a little museum off the beaten path called the Museo Thyssen. It had a beautiful Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele collection, two of my favorite painters. It was the first time I'd seen their work in person, so this museum will always hold a special place in my heart. Their use of pattern and the female form have greatly influenced me over the years and continue to inspire me.

3. In college, I studied abroad in Kyoto, Japan. I fell head over heels in love with everything about that gorgeous city, especially the woodblock prints. The muted colors and flattening of space in this artistic tradition are elements that I often utilize in my own work.

4. Ever since I was a little girl, libraries have been a sort of haven for me. The first time I visited the British Museum in London, I fell head over heels in love with the library. There's just something about being surrounded by books and knowledge that makes me feel like anything is possible.

5. My favorite spot at home in San Francisco is the magical Flora Grubb. It's like a modern day secret garden, filled with handmade vases, air plants and lemon trees. Sometimes when I visit I take my sketchbook with me and draw for hours. Plus they make really yummy scones.

And unable to stop at just five, Kimia concludes:

Every time I visit New York, I notice my art influenced by the fashion there. I find so much inspiration in the way designers come up with new beautiful ways to dress the body and express themselves. Fashion for me is living art that surrounds us on a daily basis. My shelves are filled with copies of magazines like Vogue and W that I've collected over the years. I've noticed that whenever I'm looking for new painting ideas or color palettes, I find myself going back to their pages. And of course, there are summer picnics in Parisian parks -- there's nothing more beautiful to me than the glowing light and ephemeral colors of a warm summer day. Capturing the whimsical quality of afternoon picnics is an element I try to infuse in my paintings, as well as the nostalgia I feel towards fleeting summer days.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* interior designer: tricia foley
* jeweler: camille eddera
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell

~ laily


{japenese woodblock print in the final image, from here}

{the route of the royal wedding processions}

. . . finding myself really quite excited . . . will you be watching?

{p.s.} and doesn't the route of the royal wedding processions look positively lovely rendered in watercolours?

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* u p d a t e :
available as here from the house that lars built


{image: full time with dental via patterson maker}

{favourite five: rent the runway}

It's almost wedding season and aside from new beginnings and catching bouquets, there is just one thing on everybody's mind: what to wear? Jennifer Hyman and Jenny Fleiss have the most delightful solution, and it involves a mountain of haute couture and never having to wear the same gown twice.

Jennifer and Jenny, who met at Harvard, realized they were not the only ones who adored high-end fashion, whether for black-tie affairs or casual first dates, used their backgrounds in business and entrepreneurial spirit to launch, Rent the Runway, a membership-only designer rental company where women can rent dresses and accessories from over 100 of the most luxurious labels including Herve Leger, Proenza Schouler, Missoni and Badgley Mischka for only 10 percent of the retail price, making shopping in Carrie Bradshaw's closet no longer something in our dreams . . .



. . . and since Jennifer and Jenny's mission is to assist modern-day Cinderellas find the perfect dress to whisk away Prince Charming, we naturally wanted to know which dresses were the most sought after, so we sat down with them this week to find out:

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{the top five most coveted dresses}

5. Jenny Fleiss: "All Herve Leger dresses do incredibly well on Rent the Runway. It’s such an iconic brand. The Berry Ombre Dress is a top rental as customers have really been drawn to one shoulder dresses the past several months."

4. Jennifer Hyman: "The teal Yigal Azrouel dress is also a top pick -- again, one shoulder dresses are really on trend right now. "

3. Jenny Fleiss: "For any girl looking for a classic mini dress, the Robert Rodriguez Black Label Sequin Insert Mini is a popular choice. Black is flattering on every body type and what girl doesn’t love sequins!"

2. Jennifer Hyman: "The Badgley Mischka Screen Siren Gown is arguably the Rent the Runway dress that makes the biggest statement. For any girl attending prom, a formal wedding, or red carpet event, this is the dress that is most sought after."

1. Jennifer Hyman: "The Key Hole Goddess Gown by Nicole Miller has been an all time hit -- it looks great on every skin tone and is especially popular this time of year with prom and spring weddings approaching."

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* designer: rachel ashwell
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro

~ laily


{images: painting by susan calloway via elements of style; mali sabatasso green turquoise ring; backstage at balmain; giuseppe zanotti design diamante sandals; mona johannesson in plaza magazine via a glamorous little side project; champagne & macarons from a previous post}