Paris in spring...

The weather in Paris this week has been cold and wet but spring has found its way into French department store windows.

No matter what the season, Printemps always manages to have amazing window displays. Don't you just love the pop of pink, I would adore to see the other windows, I can only imagine the riot of colour; green, yellow and maybe blue. The fleuriste must have had so much fun choosing the accompanying flowers.

In just over a week I'll be having my very own French window therapy fix!
I have been honing my skills at what to pack in Paris during spring, thanks to A Femme d'Un Certain Age, by Tish Jett.
I've found some fabulous coffee shops in the Marais,
thanks to Carla Coulson, of Carla Loves Photography.(An Australian gal must have good coffee)
And finally researched the ten most romantic things to do in Paris, thanks to Vicki Archer of French Essence.

Just to get myself totally in the mood, this afternoon I went to the see the highly acclaimed french film The Well Digger's Daughter directed by Daniel Auteuil.
 Being a francophile I thought I was in french heaven.

Have a lovely weekend.
Andrina x

Lest we forget...

Lone Pine

As I sat to write today, the memories of past wars are all around me.
Today in Australia it's Anzac Day, a day more revered by us all than any other, it is the day this country found its soul, through mateship, grit and determination in the face of dire circumstance on the cliffs of Gallipoli.
I have to confess that I watched the Anzac Day service on television rather than braving the cold and dark dawn, but watch it I did and shed a tear for all those brave young men who gave their lives for our country.

I have also been catching up on season 2 of Downton Abbey and of course the episode was set in 1915, as I watched scenes of the Battle of the Somme it struck me how similar the demeanour of the young boys were in both battles, terrified young men awaiting their fate above the trench walls, so desperate to make their families and mates proud, yet so scared at the prospect of being wounded or worse, not returning at all. 

In our family tree we have Great Uncles and Great Grandfathers who fought and some who died at Gallipoli. Today my thoughts are with all Australian soldiers around the world, past and present, may God speed and bring you home to your families and loved ones.

Lest we forget.


My favourite war novels:
War and Peace          Leo Tolstoy
The English Patient    Michael Ondaatje
Birdsong                   Sebastian Faulks
A Long way Gone      Ishmael Beah
Highways to a War    Christopher J Koch
Cold Mountain           Charles Frazier
 

Happiness in a bloom



George V, Paris

A friend asked me the other day what makes me happy?

My first thought was flowers, they make me smile. I delight in their fragrance, colour and texture and daydream different ways of arranging my favourites in various vases and urns.

On reflecting, I felt very guilty that my first answer wasn’t …the three wonderful men in my life, or my friends and family, but honestly, I adore flowers they truly make me happy.

There is something about a bowl of fresh flowers home-grown or from the market that makes the whole house come alive and puts a spring in my step as I wander past.

What makes you happy?

The faux flowers at Veranda Home and Garden are extraordinary, pop in and have a look.

I buy flowers from:

The Boatshed Market

Jarrard Street, Cottesloe.

Newbies worth checking out:

Nathalie Louise Flower Design

383 Rokeby Road, Subiaco.

Inflorescence
Shop 6 Glyde Street, Mosman Park.

Flower books I love :

Simply Elegant Flowers with Michael George.

Grandiflora Arrangements by Saskia Havekes

Simple Flowers by Paula Pryke

Have a lovely floral weekend.

Andrina x

Comfort or style...

Chairs that are well designed and constructed often become collectors pieces and are timeless, regardless of their era or their style. Such is the case with the Butterfly chair.

Image- Sailko

While sifting through family photo albums, I came across some vintage photos of interiors designed by my father, Geoffrey Summerhayes in his early architecture days (1950's).

The butterfly chair or BKF, was designed by Jorge Ferrari Hardoy in collaboration with Juan Kurchan and Antonio Bonet of the Austral Group in Buenos Aires, Argentina 1938.

This photo ws published in the Australian House and Garden magazine in the late 50's. It's lovely to think that this iconic chair has been passed from father to daughter and is still used for its beauty and comfort, regardless of the setting or era.

Have a relaxing Sunday.
Andrina x

Easter Weekend

The weather in Perth of late has been divine. Warm sunny days, no breeze and a lovely Autumn chill in the evenings.
Easter for us has been all about relaxing; long walks in the park and along the beach, bike rides to the local coffee shop, swimming with Bentley at Cottesloe dog beach and catching up on all the videos I meant to watch at Christmas.
Oh the joy of a long weekend...

I hope that your Easter was as perfect as mine.
Andrina x

Forever tattooed ...

While travelling on the east coast, a gorgeous girlfriend sent me some pictures of avant garde art she had seen at the Mona in Hobart and Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.
In her generous way, she thought I might like to look at the intriguing artworks.
They were indeed interesting, but were they my art?

Tattooed.  Wim Delvoye

Spiderman.  Stephen Birch

Is the art you love, of a particular style or is it attached to an emotion? Is it a nude given by a lover, or an oil given to you by a parent as your first collectors piece. Is is the bargan that you got at the local market or just a canvas filled with beautiful colours?

Hesling '73.  Way Down on the Swan River

I've always been a fan of water colours. I love the way the brush strokes float across the page then vanish or simply blend into other colours becoming a shimmering mirage.

G. Woey

I've also been a fan of nudes, they are rather evocative, especially outside the bedroom.
But lately, I've become a huge fan of oil paintings. They have a strength and depth about them that draws you in, really studying the artwork and all its dimensions.


At the moment, I'm loving Rachel Carroll, a very talented young Australian artist from Sydney.

Rachel Carroll

Hattah in Flood.    Rachel Carroll

Hattah.   Rachel Carroll

What do you think? What's your favourite art? Andrina x