Inspiration!

Over the past few days I cannot believe how much this musician has appeared in my daily activities. Its a bit spooky and seems cosmically aligned that I share! First there was the segment on NPR. Then I heard her on a college radio station. Finally my puppeteer/artist friend Zach, who has a blog of his own, mentioned her. And that's when I knew I should publish something! I will admit I was a little self conscience, because I don't want all the aforementioned sources to think I was copying them. It was all leading up to this.
Have I intrigued you enough? Well, drum roll please....
Take a listen to KATE BUSH.



She's crazy. How could you not love her?
A quick peak at her biography and you can see that she has served as inspiration for artists of all kinds. Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine sighted her as a huge influence.
What I love most is her passion for creativity and art. She's not trying to hit the top of the charts, nor is she worried what others will think of her creation. She says she just likes to "play," and I really admire that kind of freedom. I hope you enjoy it too!

p.s. The Decemberists new album comes out on the 18th!! Preview it!

Just Devine!

If I ever visit, sorry WHEN I (one day) visit London, I know will have to pilgrimage to the Tatty Devine store. Tatty Devine is a jewelery company based in the East End of London owned by Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine (what FANTASTIC names!). The pair started the company 1999, making acyclic-based accessories with a bold and unique twist that makes me just giddy! I fist saw one of their pieces on my very good friend Lucy and now I frequently drool over the website. Let me start your addiction.

Earrings!

More Earrings! Even cuter!


How Funny!


LOVE THIS!!!!! I may just order this...


This is a hair piece. Can you believe that?

Adorable.

Grand Finale {My favorite of all their collections!}:

The Herdy Company

Headquartered in England's Lake District, the profits from this company goes to protecting and maintaining the land, animals, etc. I particularly like these sheep mugs, but the site has all kinds of fun things from kitchenware to house goods and presents. View.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {The Mummers}

Another English folk-ish band...Sorry! I'll branch out soon! This week I'm bringing you The Mummers, from Brighton, specifically- their music is lovely, lovely {I've been listening while I write my thesis this week}.

The band centers around Raissa & Mark Horwood {who unfortunately committed suicide in 2009}. Their most recent album - Tale to Tell - was released in April of 2009. Enjoy!

Telephone

I think in my next place I am going to have a home phone, just because! Aren't these adorable?

{via: Pedlars}

Is That Seat Taken?

Adorable London-licious pillow. Want.

{Via: NotOnTheHighStreet.com}

Stella McCartney Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

Minimalist & with some crazy fruits & florals thrown in for good measure. Digging it. View here.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Kate Rusby}

I feel pretty lame about missing two Folk Friday's in a row - you & I both know I would rather be trolling around for new music &/or scrolling through my iTunes to find something to share instead of constantly writing & editing thesis chapters.

This week I have a new folkie for you, well she's new to me & I'm digging it. Maybe you will too - I think it's safe to say she is right up Britt's alley.

Kate Rusby - a lovely combination of traditional & modern folk - is, unsurprisingly, from England {everything I listen to for the past 2 years or so seems to be coming out of England, any suggestions on American artists from our emerging folk scene??}. She was born in 1973 in Yorkshire. Kate was raised by a musically inclined & interested family, learning fiddle at any early age. She debuted at a festival when she was 15 & joined forces with fellow folky - Kathryn Roberts - for a few albums, garnering them attention & a few awards. She currently has eight solo discs available on iTunes.

I think Kate must also be a little bit of an artist because her website {linked above} sells some of her doodles on mugs & shirts & other things. I really dig them - super cute. See the mugs below:

I'm quite excited about this find - let me know what you all think! However, it doesn't look like she will be making her way to the U.S. anytime soon - view her tour dates here.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Carolyn Recently Finished {Farewell Leicester Square}:

Farewell Leicester Square (1941 by Betty Miller) is my first, and much anticipated, purchase from Persephone books {blog post here} in London. It really lived up to my expectations. I can't say it was one of those couldn't-put-it-down, finished-in-one-sitting, edge-of-your-seat sort of books; it was more like a warm cup of tea at the end of a long day or a well-worn in blanket - comforting read. It also didn't give much away - it was a story, not one with risky rising and dramatic falling action, but a life story that was written out in a nice, respectful manner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story, the writing was superb {a true novel!}, and the print/construction of the book itself was lovely {I can't wait to purchase another book from them!}.

{Betty Miller, author}

Farewell Leicester Square follows a Mr. Alec Berman from his Jewish family in Brighton, England to celebrity among film stars & directors. However, his career path & subsequent marriage to a non-Jew causes problems with his family. We don't hear much of them {unfortunately} for most of the story, but their presence was felt throughout. Alec's marriage to a very WASPy woman {Catherine} was really the most interesting {it was the central plot} part of the story for me. It was intriguing to see how beige & rainbow -so to speak - would mix. The novel takes place right before WWII, so anti-Semitic feelings were high & Alec's tension between whether he should feel English or Jewish & why not both were thought provoking.

While the story was set more than half a century ago, much of its themes are still extremely relevant today {racism, mixed marriage, acceptance from family, etc}, just replace Jewish with whatever type of person you want -gay, black, female, disabled, etc when reading this quote {I think it might be particularly interesting with all the protests for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell today}:

"Let me try to explain," he said at last. "Look." He stopped in front of her. "You've never, have you, Catherine, felt intensely gratified, happy, if someone happened to mistake you for other than what you are? Have you?"

"No, of course not." She was slightly at a loss.

"You've never had to...You don't know either, what it feels like to walk about on earth that doesn't belong to you, speak a language which isn't really yours (although you know no other): live every second of your life among people who at best tolerate you: be dependent for life itself upon those people...You haven't - you can't possibly have - the slightest conception of the perpetual uneasiness in which a Jew lives - the terrifying lack of security: the sense that all one has yearned and striven for (the every-day happiness which any human being is entitled to) is entirely at the mercy of politicians, is challenged by every hostile word, look, gesture...The sense that everything, Catherine, that a Jew builds, is built upon quicksands..." {page 142}

I quite appreciated Alec's general attitude of positivity as well, it didn't seem forced - it was his natural disposition to accept things as they came...calm perhaps?

"Nothing, Alec thought, nothing at all (not the greyness, not the rheumatism, not the denture bathing in the glass of water) would ever convince one that one's dancing days were really over..."

I highly suggest looking into this title, or others by Betty Miller or reprinted by Persephone, I'm thoroughly hooked!

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Bombay Bicycle Club}

These guys hail from London & have such a sweet sound to them. Their debut CD, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, came out July 6, 2009. That was followed by Flaws released July 12, 2010.

MUSIC: Folk Friday {Laura Marling}

No idea how I came across this gorgeous folky {Pandora is most likely}, but I legit cannot get enough. I listen to her CD on repeat & it only makes my desire to move to the English countryside stronger & sadder.

Laura Marling, who is only 20, comes from England & was part of the folk-act Noah & the Whale before going solo in 2007/2008.

Her first disc, Alas I Cannot Swim {2007}, was followed by I Speak Because I Can {2010}. Her voice is simply stunning.

Oh, yah, all these pictures are of the same girl -she's been through a few hair incarnations {& they all look great, which is hard to pull off!}.

Give Me Liberty or Give Me....

Want. That is all.

{Floral Mini Suitcase by Liberty of London}

Emily Bond

This fabric designer is from the UK - a noticeable source of inspiration for her prints. Scenes from the English countryside {an aesthetic which I really enjoy} -such as dairying & hunting- are pervasive in her collection, which was founded in 2007. Her linens come from Kircaldy, Scotland. Check out her website for more photos & inspiration on where to purchase.

Below is a selection of some of my personal favorites patterns of hers:

Linens: