I heart Nice.

Nice was more than nice.  It took me a couple of visits to get into its groove, but when I did - it was L O V E.  I found it a bit hard to figure out at first; it seems really ritzy and grand, but I was looking for a bit of soul. That is what I stumbled upon along the Cours Saleya on a Monday- the antiques market of Nice- ooh la la. If you're into treasure hunting, you could spend all day at these...I wish I had!  Bascially anything you could ever imagine to find, you will probably come across at these vast markets. The worst part is that most of the objects I wanted were large furniture items, which you have to just admire and not take home. The best part about these markets stalls

I heart Antibes.

 

I haven't posted about my trip to the South of France yet, because it was TOO good!!  I just haven't even known where to start.  That all ends here, because I've decided to go with the beachside village of Antibes.  It was one of my favourite stops along the Côte D'Azur.  There was something quite quaint about it, with a slow and easy quality compared to some of the other bigger cities along the coast.  If you only have a day, all you need to pencil in is a trip to Picasso's studio turned museum (you immediately understand why he chose to call this place home. *keep in mind that the musée closes between 12-2pm) and then park yourself on the beach.  I would choose this spot above at Juan Les Pins; it was a gorgeous cove that was tucked away from the main coastal strip. I had the best baguette mixte (ham and cheese) of my trip in Antibes, so be sure to get yourself one of those too!

#lineinthestone

i have been having the best time, getting creative with my most favourite souvenirs from the South of France. i still need to share my photos of my time in that part of the world with you, but for now, i thought i would share with you this little project i have been doing on instagram. it combines some of my favourite things; creative thinking with simple found objects from travels that don't cost anything, but are actually priceless. these objects to me, hold an innate wealth because of what they represent and the memories they evoke. on top of that, i love pushing myself to find new shapes for these pretty critters to make- it rocks ;)  i like it so much, i started a hashtag for the series: #lineinthestone. follow along!

flowers and plants: italy and france.

along the coast of the south of France and into Italy (we visited San Remo for lunch one day), the plant life is in. cre. di. ble. never have i seen such huge cacti and vivid flowers in bloom. i think my favourites were the giant mother in law's tongues, but if you like bougainvillaea

holiday in your own backyard!

today is my first day off in two weeks, so i thought i'd take some time to take my time...if you know what i mean. first, i put on an outfit that i didn't have to consider whether it was comfortable or sensible to 'work' in the whole day- i love that. we went out for breakfast and then went for a walk along the coast on this unseasonably warm winter's day in Sydney. it was so fun to explore my own backyard (that's how i refer to the beach, because it technically is!). i really felt like i was on a holiday, seeing the beauty in my surroundings as if for the first time. what a refreshing approach to the day!

inspired by: Henri Matisse.

via Justina Blakeney Photo by: Fiona Galbraith

on my recent trip to Europe, I went to the Matisse museum in Nice, France with this first image in mind. I knew this great artist's studio housed a gigantic philodendron because I had admired this black and white version on pinterest. it feels almost as if I willed one to still be there went I went to his now studio turned museum- honestly, I got shivers, it was almost eerie. when I got home, I was inspired to show off my green goddess (which I once thought of as large...but not really by comparison!) in this post for JB Est 1979. it just goes to show how easy it is to be inspired by your travels and then incorporate something from that trip into your own home. 

i heart Istanbul.

oh Istanbul, how do I love thee? let me count the ways! i love your colourful little shops, restaurants and hotels. your rooftop terraces delight, as did your sounds and smells. i love your call to prayer, evil eyes, yogurt tubs as flower pots, carpets and textiles galore. i love remembering your crooked little streets; the simple little cafes set up on skinny sidewalks and the scrappy stray kittens that tip-toed along them. i especially love that at the end of a long day exploring your neighbourhoods, my hair would smell like...roasted chestnuts. i will most definitely be back! *click through for more pretty pictures

the colours of Istanbul.

 

honestly, all you need to know is: beautiful Bosphorus b. l. u. e.

my best friend's wedding; Tuscany.

All photos by: Aljosa Videtic your man for European destination wedding images; he captures all the candid moments.

one of my best friend's got engaged and then turned this super special, romantic Tuscan wedding around in less than 3 months! we had to take a funicular (so The Grand Budapest Hotel) up to Certaldo Alto an old medieval walled village just above Certaldo, near San Gimignano in Tuscany, Italy for the ceremony. the setting really could not have been more magical if you had 3 years to plan your wedding! highlights for me were seeing and laughing with old friends, learning how to make ravioli and tiramisu (which we made for the wedding dinner) and my stone fox bestie serenading her new husband on the ukelele at the end of the night- i sobbed! do only fools rush in? for a girl who only knew that she wanted purple hydrangeas, she came up with one pretty party- you have GOT to check out the photos to believe it. i promise, you won't help falling in love...