From Australia, with love

It's hard to be creative. It takes courage to say "I think this picture I've painted, this room I've decorated, this article I've written is good. What do you think?" Dealing with facts and figures is far easier than with ideas and the never-ending quest for inspiration.

Being creative is putting yourself on display. And inviting praise and criticism. But to be creative is to be blessed. It is to live a life that is constantly inspired by what's around you. 

I value the creative people in my life so much. They inspire me to take chances like starting Passe-par-tout - what was for me a huge step. So I'm very pleased that my super-creative, professional photographer, Aussie friend is going to share her photos of things she loves with us. This is the first in what I hope will be a regular column of her photos called From Australia with love. It's inspired by two friends who met a long time ago, haven't seen each other in person in over a decade, yet the ties of what we shared and the things we both love still bind us fast.

Thank you LTG - you are great, you are talented, you are inspiring. And these photos are just heavenly. Can't wait to share more of the beautiful things you capture so magnificently.

x

(Images: Journey of Life Photography)

Dinner guests

It was supposed to be a quiet meal for two. Just us. Nothing fancy.

But then some uninvited guests arrived.



They seemed eager to join us and jostled for a good spot.



Then, in an orderly line, they waited expectantly for dinner to be served.

What these photos can't convey is the noise about 50 hungry cows can make and our laughter.

x







(Images: PPT)

See this

Some movies are just too beautiful to miss. Beautiful story. Beautiful setting. Beautiful acting (and actors). And the most gorgeous, human elephant.

Your heart is broken several times, you shed a few tears, you laugh, you leave filled with happiness,joy and hope.

Don't miss it.

x



(Image: IMDb)

Dreaming of warm evenings

I've done some harping on about spring in the last few weeks (here and here and here). But now my preoccupation with spring is slowly turning into thoughts of summer. Wouldn't this be the perfect spot to relax on a warm summer's evening, with candles flickering in the breeze as you watch the light dying over the sea? Pure magic.

I'm not sure where this home is exactly - only that it's on the Spanish island of Formentera. Probably best. If I could find it on Google maps the temptation to pop in for sundowners would be too great!

x

(Image: Jordi Canosa)

Do what pleases you

There's a French expression for the month of May. They say: "En mai, fait ce qu'il te plait." It means in May do what pleases you. A fantastic sentiment to live by all year round.

Doing what pleases me is about focusing on the little things. At the moment that means making a fresh smoothie each morning. Some days I just don't feel like chopping up fruit and cleaning the blender when I'm done. But I know that this sweet, typically pink (I'm a huge berry fan), good-for-me start to my day makes me feel good. So I do it. Another little thing, is taking a small detour on my walk to an exercise class. I'm always running late and therefore running, but this detour means I pass by a rose bush that smells heavenly. So heavenly and so strong that you pick up the scent before you've turned the corner. Even though I'm late I stop to enjoy those roses. And each time it adds a small kick to my step as I dash off.

I hope you take a little time to do what pleases you.

x

(Image: Stephanie Rausser Photography)

Simple ingredients for a good life

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(Image: Shabby Blogs)

Pretty in pink

I've tried to find the perfect words for these cherry blossoms and azaleas. But the more I tried, the more they didn't seem right. And then it hit me - I could stop trying so hard and let the photos speak for themselves.

What have they said to you?

For the Japanese cherry blossoms are a reminder of how short life is (more about them here). For the Chinese azaleas are a symbol of womanhood. But whatever language you speak, they're beautiful.

x







(Images - PPT)

Saying it with flowers

This window display - which works perfectly with this week's floral theme - was impossible to resist.

If you were looking for the perfect outfit for a special event - an outfit that would celebrate the occasion, make you feel feminine and festive, and express your individuality - wouldn't one of these be just perfect?

Oh to be so bold...and so imaginative.

x

(Images: PPT)

A love affair

Large bouquets. Tiny posies. Single stems.

Regal lilies. Simple pansies. Wild poppies.

Purple ones. Pink ones. Yellow ones.

I love them all. In fact, I'd say I'm addicted to flowers.

I serve my addiction by filling the house with flowers at all times. And taking tons of photos of them. In honour of my addiction, I thought I'd post some of my flower photos here in the next few days. Think of them as little bouquets just for you. And ever-lasting ones you can come back to again and again.

Simple, fragrant, care-free lilacs are, I think, perfect to start us off. In the language of flowers - which the Victorians used to express feelings they couldn't admit publicly - purple lilacs were a symbol of first love. So add romantic to the list of adjectives that describe them.

Aren't they glorious? I took these photos ten days ago on a perfect spring day in the French countryside. Hope you love them too.

x

(Images: PPT)

A new fashion?

Well, we couldn't have asked for more! It was a fairy tale wedding. But more special because it was real.

I wasn't in London on the day so I missed the excitement that I'm told was in the air. But I won't forget turning on the TV early in the morning. Watching it in my pajamas, sitting cross legged on a hotel bed. 

My first sight was of Kate getting into her car. So my lasting memory will always be of her and the first exclamations of excited US TV presenters about how beautiful she looked.

Her dress was perfect. Perfect for her. Simple, elegant, classic. It was stunning last Friday. And it will be stunning in 10,000 Fridays from now.

It's clear from her choice of wedding dress that Kate knows who she is, what she's comfortable wearing and is confident enough to be true to herself. It would have been so easy for her to be swept away by over-the-top fashion choices - after all, she had one of the world's greatest design houses at her disposal and an unlimited budget. I've read quotes from a few fashion types describing her choice as safe, and expressing their disappointment that her dress was not more innovative. Safe, yes. Boring, I don't think so. Because on her wedding day she was true to herself. A more radiant version - as all brides are - but still unmistakeably Kate.

Perhaps if she becomes the icon the media will try to turn her into, her timeless fashion choices will influence how we all dress. In the last few years, we seem to have fallen into a 'Sex and the City' fashion nightmare. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the show and of a lot of the fashion. But how it's translated onto high streets and into shopping malls, for those of us on a budget, can be somewhat terrifying sometimes - mixing patterns is bold (not bad), wearing sequins at 11am is chic (not tacky), wearing anything from 'last season' is out (not clever).

Will Kate usher in a more thoughtful, simple fashion aesthetic? She won't intend to but she just might.

x

(Images: instyle.com)