unbelievably alluring...i want to admire these objects up close and in person. if only i could try these shoes on for fun, touch the lovely cushion, admire the artwork and natural beauty within arms length, and be under that pale pink and blue sky. looking at all the colors and forms together makes me smile. have an alluring week.

sources:

mary delany botanical illustration via designsquish; claude monet's the garden gate via wikipaintings; simon rocha shoes by rory van millingen via differentfolks; renilde depeuter seat cushion/artwork via atswimtwobirds; wildest dreams garden designed grouping via landscape focused; ethereal soria spain image via satsuma

opulent, mystical almost electrifying effect iridescent qualities have on the viewer's eye. so bright with warmth, shimmering metallic brilliance draws me in. easy to see how younger eyes are distracted by shiny objects. must remember to add a little brilliance to my everyday.

sources:

ninh wysocan quarry iridescent crystal, african opal necklace via totokaelo; hufton and crow photo of sauerbruch hutton-designed brandhorst museum in munich via europaconcorsi; adina mills quartz, hand sculpted clay necklace via totokaelo; rikka ayasaki - passions (2011) via mydarkenedeyes; goldpoets bronze ring via goldpoets; henri lebasque painting the pine tree via athenaeum

for the week ahead, we plan on spending much of our time in the kitchen. looking at this assortment of festive colors and tactile splendor soothes me from thinking about the oncoming domestic overload. more importantly, this week will be about a pleasant gathering with familiar homespun scents, comforting food and family bonding. hope wherever you are, you will surround yourself with comforting company and food. happy thanksgiving.

sources:

wreath via wikimediacommons; fiber art in mona kowalska, a detacher creator, interior via stylelikeu; nicole franzen photo of fruit bowl via nicolefranzen; william lamson's sugar solarium via communedesign; 1890-1900's agate ring via eriebasin; naturalistic garden design via landscapefocused

enjoy the calm before the storm of frenzy - when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season - is upon us. take a moment to pause and reflect and get ready....it's just around the corner. thinking of a strategic plan to be as productive as possible in the weeks to come. have a productive week.

sources:

clive nichols photo of pettifers garden, oxfordshire via clivenichols; detail of antonio munoz degrain painting via sforzinda; jean benner-frais painting via penseesduchoeur; 1910s art nouveau abalone ring via eriebasin; john singer sergeant, nonchaloir, oil on canvas via artcyclopedia; william wendt painting via paintingbox

dreaming of a mini escape to create and make objects that make people smile and feel good. then imagining the mobile cart and trailer to be mini pop-up shops. it feels good to have this mini dream, although the wares are really mine and can be seen in my actual shop with a click of the button to the right or at kuwatani.com. may your week be filled with mini dreams that come at least partially true.

sources:

one-of-a-kind silent thread chime by kuwatani via kuwatani; perfect mini escape/studio via ivillage; handmade mini lavender-filled sachets by kuwatani via kuwatani; dreamy work space via limilee; charming cart via sleekitone; imagining it to be rustic playful pop up shop for my wares, photo by hilary walker via hilarywalker

colorful sunsets hold my gaze, marking a tranquil time of day just before twilight. it is one of my favorite times of the day - everything softens and starts to sparkle - a time when closeness and warmness emerge. i don't see it as the end of something but the beginning of a certain closeness with friends or family or the coziness and solitude of one. maybe it's the homebody in me that can relate to that hour when so many go inside or start to settle in for the evening. have a colorful yet tranquil week.

sources:

canvas hotel seen on blood and champagne, sourced via onekindesign; twinned dolomite with hematite inclusions via bijouxetmineraux; salt marsh sunset by bruce crane via elegantiaearbiter; 1930's reverse painted peacock via eriebasin; becca stadtlander card via beccastadtlander; lisa grossman prairie twilight painting via lisagrossmanart

the glow of an illuminating moon is an instant mood lifter. it can lure you in, force you to slow down, be in the moment and reflect on the day.  to top it off, it was a rare find, a little treasure, to come across the granville redmond painting of one of my favorite places located almost in my backyard - sultry mt. tam in the moonlight.

be safe in the shadow of the moon this halloween.

sources:

granville redmond oil on canvas, mount tamalpais in moonlight with a moored vessel in the marshes below via paintingbox; nadascorner ceramic dishes from etsy spotted on anabundanceof; 1900s edwardian dragon's breath ring via eriebasin; arthur wesley dow, marsh creek, pencil woodcut printed in colors via wikimediacommons; moonstone and copper set in silver ring via thegoldensmith; arthur wesley dow, august moon, via wikimediacommons

grandeur, elegance, softness...part of me yearns to sit in a formal garden, embroider away, stroll through the grounds and ponder which baubles to wear to the next ball. enjoy your week, have a ball.

sources:

19th century enamel pearl pendant via eriebasin; rundale palace photo by seanavigatorsson spotted on rococo revisited via flickr; clive nichols photo of pettifers garden, oxfordshire via clivenichols; michel barhelemy olivier oil on canvas via rococorevisited; westbury court garden, gloucestershire via nationaltrustimages; 1890-1900s victorian colored paste ring via eriebasin