Hidden Gem...

I found the amazing work of Carly Waito via Dear Ada and was instantly enamoured of it...

As a jeweller, I think I am just drawn to the beauty of natural stones and I know Ryan is a total sucker for them, too. We have just spent the last hour looking at fabulous gemstones to set into cocktail rings - so Carly's beautiful paintings seem like an appropriate thing to share today!

...view her whole set of beautiful paintings here, and follow her blog here!

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Dopple-nammer...

We stumbled across the work of Abbey Ryan while doing the most shameful of shameful things... googling ourselves and checking our google ranking! *blush*

...but, in finding her lovely work, we're totally glad we did!

A graduate of Hunter College NY - Abbey is a multi-talented lady, working as an illustrator, graphic designer as well as a painter (it was her ethereal paintings, above, that I most fell for)...

Enjoy browsing!

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Take a load off...

My entire flat is currently an upside-down (organised) disaster as I prepare for my move to Belfast this weekend... so, I got to thinking: wouldn't this splendid little sofa seat be the most perfect oasis of calm to snuggle up on to and read a book?

Yes... I think so.

*imagining heading down to Habitat right now to get one*

le sigh.

Abigail@abigail*ryan

REally lovely...

The wonderful website of UK destination store Re-found Objects is a treasure trove of beautiful finds, both new (sourced globally) and vintage - and is my go-to place online for inspiration and gift ideas...

I could purchase something I know I would love to have in my home from Re-found ANY day of the week, and although I love hunting for fabulous vintage finds myself (the thrill of the chase and all that jazz), the buyers are re-found have such wonderful taste, I always know there will be something there I will love!

Currently hankering after their moulded Milk Glass and Pressed Glass cake stands, vintage berry serving spoons - outdoor garden party season is coming up, and I can't help but think how pretty tables be-decked with these would be...

My dangerous love for vintage jelly-moulds could also be hugely aroused by browsing this site - good job I can't actually go to the shop as I would be sure to come away with armfuls! ;)

Abigail@abigail*ryan

Paint by Numbers...

I love these paintings by Paulina Archambault, a Polish artist now living in Munich with her American husband.

At their best, the stark simplicity, somehow, still manages to evoke an emotional response...a quiet sadness or delicate melancholy...their deep, dark, wide eyes suggesting an, almost overwhelmed, inquisitiveness.

I'm probably getting carried away with myself, but combined with the sadness...much more evident in some than others, and the dark eyes that could have seen too much, deadened but still wide with horror, the numbers scrawled in the corner of each painting begin to resemble holocaust tattoos; the little hats, yarmulkes.

What can you see in them?

Available at Etsy, and Dawanda.

ryan@abigail*ryan

Mirror, Mirror...

Available at Graham&Green, priced £299

Mirrors are huge this season, in all shapes and sizes, but angled/ faceted mirrors, in particular, seem to be a massive trend...with versions available everywhere from designer boutiques, to high-street department stores.

I'm particularly taken with this instant wall of mirrors effect...different sizes of mirror fixed at different depths and angles to create dramatic abstract patterns in their reflections- adding interest to any room scheme, while doing the usual interior design tricks of brightening and making the room feel larger.

Which of these versions would you choose? Would you "Save or Splurge"?!

Available at Debenhams, priced £75

Available at Next, priced £115 (for all three)

Available at Dwell, priced £179

Available at Heal's, priced £475

Available at Graham&Green, priced £498

ryan@abigail*ryan

Hi Honey...

I found this article in, pretty awesome, food blog "EatMeDaily", and can't decide if it's utter genius, or complete nonsense!

In deciphering the "clues" in Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video, it attempts to prove a deeper meaning in amongst all the wigs and product placement...part of me thinks you can add meaning to everything if you look hard enough, but the other part of me wonders that if, once you've been told about the clues, they seem so blatant, you really couldn't just make this stuff up!

Watch the video, read the article...then, maybe, watch the video again- what do you think..? Do the references to "honey" in the video really converge to "form an argument about women and production"?

ryan@abigail*ryan