nathalie

Let me introduce you to illustrator and graphic artist Nathalie Lété. I was looking at her beautiful work on the internet and thinking that it's not really my cup of tea but I like it and wouldn't it be wonderful to have a little bit of it. Nathalie's work seemed so familiar and then I realised that I might have something of hers - a little tin bucket that I'd bought as a gift for a friend a few years back. I began to doubt that my friend would like it so I bought her something else and kept the bucket. I hadn't known who the designer/illustrator was but now I see written on the bottom of the bucket "Nathalie Lété pour Vilac." How weird is that?

Nathalie has illustrated a children's pop-up book Promenade de la petite fille (Ramble of the little girl) and you can see her reading it here. And you can visit her website to see more of her work - i.e. if it's your cup of tea.

Reading: Stoner by John Williams
Eating: strawberries fresh from the garden

wellington weekend

Lyall Bay with good friends, good food, sun, plenty of wind, the sea and Bunnings Warehouse. 

What more could you want?

Reading: Not that kind of girl by Lena Dunham

Watching: Homeland, season 4

snapshot weekend

Waiheke Island on Saturday for lunch at Cable Bay vineyards to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday followed by a slow late afternoon walk to catch the ferry home.
Then on Sunday another ferry to see the sculpture on the shore exhibition. I gave my vote for the "people's choice award" to Subtlehack by Audrey Boyle - a wire and stretchy fabric sculpture reminiscent of supplejack.
And we ended our weekend in fine style with dinner on the beach - fish and chips and a glass of wine - with some good old friends.
How was your weekend?

Reading: The mad boy, Lord Berners, my grandmother and me by Sofka Zinovieff

tussie mussie

I planted a small cutting garden a few months back hoping to have plenty of flowers for picking over the summer. Everything grew tall and green and then got blown over in a storm and died. I've had to start over. So disappointing. But a few things from last year - like the foxgloves and geranium - have self-seeded. (This is a very good reason not to weed too often or too well). And, of course, there are always weeds. Someone once told me that weeds are just plants you don't want. But some of them - like the forget-me-nots - are so pretty why would you not want them?

Reading: extra curricular #15  bought from here