Flutterbye London

I've escaped London for a few months (good riddance to the burglars who thieved from my studio over Christmas. Shame on you.) I am itching to start painting and everywhere I look I'm inspired.

I cannot wait to begin and a little bit of Peter Doig and Gemma Ward are wonderful starting points.

Peter Doig 'Man Dressed as Bat', 2007 

Gemma Ward for Alexander McQueen, Fall 2006

Gemma Ward by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue Paris

Peter Doig

Mary, Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Aren't these utterly amazing?!

The first three images are from a series called Surreal Planes, of Mary Katrantzou's last season collection which have been photographed and then painted by Erik Madigan Heck.

Heck then created Florals for Katrantzou's current season collection.

Erik Madigan Heck

marykatrantzou.com

The Aurora

My lucky sister did an arctic biathlon for Kids Company in Sweden and saw the Northern Lights!

The aurora borealis in Sweden

kidsco.org.uk

Merry Christmas Lux Fix!

A while ago I did some sketches for the properly wonderful Lux Fix.

They have had amazing press & been featured in Elle Netherlands (with a big ol' picture of mine!) & Vogue.

So it seems this little lady has been getting around!

I'm loving the Christmassy theme Lux Fix has done with the other drawings, clever ladies.

Pat Butcher would love these earrings!

luxfix.com

elle.nl

vogue.co.uk

Fantastical Fancies

A Go-wk-maid

If these exist, then why can't unicorns?

Valentino, echos of Sargent

Valentino Spring 2012

I am longing to see Valentino's full campaign shot by Deborah Turbeville in Mexico and love the choice of Zuzanna Bijoch, Maud Welzen, Bette Franke, and Fei Fei Sun - brilliant casting.

And Oh! the hair!

It reminds me of some of Sargent's paintings, namely 'Cashmere' which is his eleven year old niece painted several times. I remember seeing it in a book in my school library and it literally sent my head spinning.

I'd not seen his work before and have remained in awe since. The man was a genius.

Cashmere by John Singer Sargent (1908)

And here are some more. Just because.

Fumée d'Ambris Gris (1880) 

A Parisian Beggar Girl (1977)                                                                  Rosina (1878)

A Venetian Scene (c.1880)

Leaving Church, Campo San Canciano, Venice (1882)

And Valentino's beauties elsewhere...

Freja Beha Erichsen at Valentino Spring Summer 2012 & Kate Bosworth at The Met Ball 2011


valentino.com

johnsingersargent.org

Saving Face

I'm getting a head start and beating the post-indulgence dollop of guilt that unwittingly plagues us at New Year. My friend Tina told me the best new year resolution... do one thing every day that you don't want to do.

As little as I manage this golden nugget of advice, when I do I am amazed by how much I get done that I've been putting off. It's a goodie.

Well, on the Hit List today is sorting out my skin care.

I'm ridiculously lax and spend a fortune on pretty and sweet smelling potions and lotions that do squwat. My sisters' dermatologists advise not using water on their faces (as does Garance Dore's), & to stay out of the sun.

Cetaphil skincare also gets mentioned over, and over, and over again.

Other blogs that were singing it's praises recently were Into The Gloss and some of the ItGirls blogging for Grazia Italia. So, here's (hoping) to squeaky clean and baby soft skin.

cetaphil.com

garancedore.com

intothegloss.com

grazia.it