Ciao

After two rather hellish weeks at work, we're leaving on holiday tomorrow morning at, oh my god, 4h30. It will be worth it. I am eating Laduree macaroons to mentally prepare myself.

Cameo girl

Loving the cameos from Peppermint Soda's lovely supplies shop...

off with her head brooch

Easily pleased, I really like the way this turned out. And the pics too, which makes a change as I never get to say that.

Hotel Le Corbusier, Marseille

Not far from Marseille's Vélodrome stadium and the scene of England's rugby defeat to France on Saturday night, (which we'll gloss over for now), is the Hotel Le Corbusier, in which we spent Friday night, a masterpiece of modular design. The hotel is housed on the third floor of an original stilted building, La Cité Radieuse, with some fabulous features, including the roof features and stained glass window pictured below.

The best part is that it isn't a museum, but a living building. Most of it is residential, we met a guy who had what sounded like a marvellous split-level apartment and there are also little shops inside, a creche, architect's office and psychiatrist all making use of the Cité Radieuse for their businesses.

We took a tiny Cabine room, below, which at just 16m2, was modelled on the monk's cells in the Tourette monastry near Lyon. With Charlotte Perrian-designed furniture, most of the original features had been retained, those added later were inkeeping with the minimalist chic of the whole project. The bigger rooms are even more impressive, with huge panoramic windows, oak parquet and balconies looking out onto either the sea or the city.

Etsy posters

Etsy poster contest results are in and I could look at this pretty page all night.

I think this one is my favourite, well done to them all, I won't debase them by screengrabbing!

Lily Allen in the sunshine

A while ago, I wrote about Madonna's collection for H&M and generally ranted about celebrity 'designers'. Veronica darling asked about the Lily Allen collection for New Look, launched earlier this year in the UK.

Back in England this weekend, my sister was sporting this cobalt blue cotton sun dress by Lily Allen which looked undeniably fab:


Flatteringly girly, the cheeky detail is in the embroidered grafitti:



Happily, the British sun stayed out long enough for her to wear it, she looked lovely.

The sea, the sea!

Calme, luxe et volupté for 48 hours in the Pas de Calais. We did swim in the sea. It wasn't very warm even in the blazing sun, but this is the Channel and it was never going to be. And just to rub it in that we had great weather, it has rained in Paris ever since.

The tractors used to take the boats out, faster than you'd think...

Beside the sea

This evening we will be driving up to the coast for a lovely weekend by the sea with some friends. Have finally bought the Canon Ixus 70 so will be able to take some decent photos, which makes me very happy.

Bon weekend!