Lonny Magazine

Still missing Domino? Yup, me too. Well Lonny Magazine is here to save us all from the post Domino blues. Lonny an online magazine is the brain child of textile designer Michelle Adams and photographer Patrick Cline. It's very fun and refreshing and a 195 pages of home decor delight....Happy Reading!

Fabulous Room Friday 10.02.09

I am still so excited about Lonny Magazine, that of course, this week's fabulous room comes from the magazine. I found the living room of textiles designer and former editor at House and Garden, Carolina Irving to be very inspiring. By now you probably know that my own aesthetic doesn't exactly veer towards floral fabrics or the shabby look, but I love how layered and collected Irving's living room is. It seems that every piece has a unique story and it seems to say so much about her personality. It feels special and inviting...the kind of place where you would gather with friends and reminisce about your travels together.

The fabric on this ottoman is beautiful.

This little nook is gorgeous! You have a beautiful, grey, ethnic fabric alongside a gilded mirror, fancy silver, antique portraits, and rosaries. I love that it feels so personal, just like the rest of Irving's apartment. I think the best spaces are the ones that tell you a story about the person who lives there and Irving's living room and her entire home for that matter, do just that.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Remember, you have until Wednesday to enter my Stella and Dot Jewelry Giveaway. Even if you've already entered once, you can earn two more entries by blogging and twittering about the giveaway. Good luck!

Also, there is still time to vote for La Dolce Vita for the Divine Caroline Awards. Pretty please with a cherry on top? Thanks to those who have already voted. You're the best!

Long Weekend Bliss

Okay, it's a long weekend - what are you going to do?

Jump in the car and hit the open road?

Dress up in your prettiest?

Enjoy the great outdoors?

Meet friends for some fun?

Attend a garden party?

Enjoy the nightlife?
.

Whatever you choose, have fun!

.

Image 1 - Ffound Image 2 - Dominic Blackmore Image 3 - Maree Homer Image 4 - here Image 5 - Victoria Pearson Image 6 - Denis Horan Image 7 - Homes & Gardens Magazine Image 8 - Hallie Burton

Love .... Tulips

Images - Flickr

Posting Pink

I had this post planned as a farewell to my friend Kristen who moves to New York today. Then I saw this post on Cote De Texas asking everyone to post pink on October 1st to increase awareness about breast cancer and screening....It's not much pink but it's enough to make my hubby go ewwww. If I had a studio in New York this is what it would look like....Happy Decorating Everyone!

1. Rubie Green- East Village (Pink)
2. Drexel Heritage - Runway Chair
3. Nova Lighting Store- Knobb Hill Crystal Chandelier
4. Barbara Barry- Lady's Desk
5. Kartell- Louis Ghost Chair Barbie Edition

Lonny is Finally Here!

It's finally here! Today marks the debut of the highly anticipated Lonny Magazine, brainchild of Rubie Green fabric designer, Michelle Adams and the incredibly talented photographer, Patrick Cline. Let me tell you, in about 30 seconds I had a new favorite magazine! It is even better than I had hoped. The aesthetic is so fresh and it really fills a huge void that has been sitting in the market for some time now. The premiere issue features spreads on the homes of former Domino Magazine Senior Market Editor, Kate Townsend Simpson (featured on the cover with daughter, Elle), Eddie Ross and partner Jaithan Kolchar, Ron Marvin, Carolina Irving, and design*sponge's Grace Bonney.

I don't want to go and on about it because I really think that you should experience it for yourself. I love that Lonny is an online magazine because as much as I love pouring over the glossy pages of my favorite publications, I end up with stacks of magazines at the end of each month and don't really have the room to store them anymore. I think Michelle and Patrick are really on to something with this concept and their premiere issue knocks it out of the park. Lonny is visually stunning and is filled with incredibly inspiring content. Here's a sneak peek:

Kate Townsend Simpson's Gorgeous Home

The Country Chic Abode of Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kolchar

All images by Patrick Cline for Lonny Magazine

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Stella and Dot Jewelry Giveaway!

I'm off again ~ to Tokyo and Hong Kong...Images from Nikko and Tsukiji

Well, I'm off again... This time to Tokyo, Nikko and Hong Kong.
I'm making this trip for fun to visit friends, sit in natural hot
springs, eat and shop till I drop. Did I mention that I need to
buy a box of trouser socks in Hong Kong?

My trip is for 13 days with the majority of it spent in Tokyo and
two day one night trip to Nikko where I'm taking a friend. I only
get two full days in Hong Kong -- in hindsight, I should have
scheduled and additional day, oh well. My friends an family are
making fun of me that I'm stopping by Hong Kong just to buy
my blasted socks. Doesn't that sound ridiculous? But it's probably
partly true... About 3 years ago, I moved from Hong Kong back to
California with no less than 7-8 dozen pairs of socks. I now have
only one dozen left. I have no idea where they go. Paul seems to
think I eat socks but I'm convinced there is a black hole in the
dryer...Anyhow, I am bent on buying a LOT of socks in Hong
Kong. How can I help it when socks here are about $3 a pair
and I can get a dozen good trouser socks for $2. It's the Chinese
cheapskate in me - always looking for a bargain :P

These are some photos I took in Nikko Japan in 2006. We
were really lucky in that it was a festival night as they usually
do not light up the shrines at night. Nor do they have beautiful
ladies in full kimono garb out on a rainy night all gathered
together.

Alas, I've seen the weather forecast for the next 10 days in
Tokyo and it's supposed to rain almost every day :( I was
planning to take some beautiful photos with my new camera
too. I suppose they will just need to be rainy photos.

I lived for almost 2 years in Japan. It really is a fascinating
country. If you've ever had the chance to visit, I must
insist that you put Japan on your list of places to experience.

And I say experience -- not just see.

The world's largest fish market is in Tokyo, Japan and it
is called Tsukiji. The market is busiest between 5AM and
6AM. To get there at 5Am, you have to arrange alternative
transportation as the trains in Tokyo do not start until 5AM.
We got up at 3:30AM to get ready and drive there to arrive
at 5AM.

The most fascinating event is the fish auction that occurs
during this time. I'd seen photos of Tsukiji before but
nothing really prepares you for the sight or size of the
tuna that are auctioned every morning. They have tuna
from all over the world. The yellow tags denote where
the fish are from.

Many of the buyers would cut into the tail of the fish to
look at the meat. I suppose it's like knocking a watermelon
at the supermarket to see if it's any good.

The auctioner stood on a crate and started waving
his arms and belting out fish lots and prices. A crowd
of buyers stood in front of him with little signs and flags
to signal whether they were bidding or not. I'd never
seen such incredible hand movement in my life -- the
auctioner literally looked like he was a chicken in the
way he was crouching and flapping his elbows up and
down at his sides. I really wish I had taken a video.

Now once you buy the fish (which are literally thousands
of dollars which might explain the not so cheap cost of sushi),
you are definitely on your own in getting the fish from the
market to where you need it. Look at this man wrestling
to get this giant tuna he won onto a wheel barrow.

This photo might give some perspective to the size of
these tuna. Makes me wonder how they fish and catch
these fish!

The fish can be cut up into smaller chunks. I saw one
seller in a stall take out a sword to cut the fish. Using
a power tool as you see here is not a bad idea...

Other than fish, you'll find seafood of all kinds for
sale. Octopus is another common item in Japanese
food.

I hope I haven't put any of you off with my "fishy"
topic but I will certainly endeavor to bring fun
photos back from my trip.

I'll be back in 2 weeks. In the meantime, I pose
this question to you. Have of you been to Japan or
Hong Kong? Is it a place that you would want to go
or not? What about these places fascinate or repel
you?

Photos from Alkemie (Karen Olivia)