Showing posts with label Design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Design. Show all posts

Sunday, June 25, 2017

A Peek into a Spring NEST: Berkeley and San Francisco


Living Etc., the UK decorating magazine says that "Nest" is #19 of "the 50 hottest interior shops


in the world".  THE WORLD!!!!


I had only known the Berkeley store to date, and conveniently (says Mr. Paradis),  on past visits to 


the Bay area,  I had arrived at the Berkeley 4th St. store only after closing time.  The original, Fillmore St. store, I had never visited, and did not know at all.


HAPPILY.  Such was not the case on the occasion of my latest visits.......


TO BOTH THE STORES -  Berkeley on a Monday,  AND the


Fillmore St. store on a Tuesday.  (After a long and informative walk from the Union Square


neighborhood.  Through Nob Hill.)  If you were a woman after my own heart, you might have been


making mental negotiations like mine: "I DO need new car because after all, I live in L.A.!


(Where a car is a MUST. ) BUT,  if I DID NOT BUY A NEW CAR,  but I tried instead to keep the old one going and bought the entire contents of at least one, if not BOTH of these Nest stores......(with the money I'd "save")


could I make myself the HAPPIEST PERSON ON EARTH FOREVER  and 


never need to leave home????"  "It seems very possible", a person like me might persuade herself, "because the Nest stores would provide everything


I have ever, could ever, want or need?"


Would you feel like a Chinese person or an Egyptian, knowing that you could die happy


with everything you'd ever need in your afterlife as well?  The way I do in this magical place?


Is that what heaven would feel like?  That you'd been transported to somewhere utterly wonderful and not wish to ever leave again?  "They" say that heaven is as simple as that.  And through millennia we've been inclined to believe it.  

That there is a heaven.  So perfect, so pleasing, yes, small, perhaps but infinitely varied and pleasure-able.  That heaven for me must surely be NEST.












Thursday, April 27, 2017

In Case You Missed It - Josef Frank at London's Fashion and Textile Museum


This show continues until May 7, 2017 at London's Fashion and Textile Museum.


If you're close and you love color - and the voluptuousness of nature - don't miss it!


Some of you may know that I have lived in Hawaii part of my life.


In fact, I started my life there and this exuberant version of color and nature is actually a


necessity of life for me.  Like food and love and sunshine.


How though, I had to wonder, did a man whose life was spent in mostly cold and colorless places


develop such a happy affinity with vivid and vigorous forms and tones


and chromatic harmonies that have stood the test of time?   And who stands out - from arguably


thousands of other artists engaged in the textile and homewares industries - because of the liveliness of his designs.


The museum also showcases a series of watercolors - mostly still lifes - that Frank did during his


travels - summer holidays off from his work at Svenkst Tenn and gorgeous renderings in watercolor


of his fabric patterns.  In which you are able to see just that little bit more of the artist's hand.


It's a delightful show.  If you haven't, catch it if you can.  If you can't there's more about Frank and his work here, and here, here, here.  









Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Where the West Was Won.....Ricardo Breceda - Sculptor, Designer, Very Cool Dude


On our way to Anza Borrego Desert State Park the other day...


it was hard to miss these guys.  Perched on outcroppings and eventually....


MASSED - like a movie director's slightly deranged dream


on the long and winding road into the State Park.


The Paradis family and friends were not the ONLY people


to find this crowd AMAZING, STUNNING, BEGUILING


and MAJORLY ARTISTIC.


All springing exuberantly from the minds and hands of a single man.


It was a reminder to us that you have to get off road.  Regularly.


Because it's not always on the major routes and roadways......that the race in life is won.

Sometimes you have to follow your own lead - as Mr. Breceda demonstrates, to arrive in Paradise.

Ricardo Breceda 

Check out his web page and that amazing, happy smile.  The guy has it totally figured out!












Thursday, October 27, 2016

Ramin Nasibov - Color Photography!


Too rainy, cold and gloomy where you are already?


Even in Los Angeles, we're getting ready for our second


rainstorm this week.  Very unusual!


Here's your antidote to the gloom.


And if you're American.....and "woke" as they're saying here -


your antidote to the "doom" of our upcoming election.





Find out more about Ramin Nasibov here and here and here and...think about something else cheerier for at least 15 minutes.  


Try to:    havea wonderful weekend!!!! 








Wednesday, September 28, 2016

The Design Museum, London - November Re-Opening


The New Design Museum Shop


was an exciting stop during our


sojourn across the pond.  (We always have to make a stop in the U.K. to visit with Mr. P. 's family.)


The Design Museum is re-opening November 24, 2016 in it's new quarters next to Holland Park.


The shop is small but everything within seems to be perfectly formed.


From soaps (up top) to the ultimate in bicycle bells (2nd pic) to these poetical flowery arrangements.  Highly recommended. Holland Park is a lovely, magical park too.  More on that soon.











Friday, September 23, 2016

Witty French Learning Tools for Mealtime


"I eat with my mouth closed"


"I sit up straight at the table", "I put my napkin in my lap"


"I don't tip my chair back", "I don't whisper with my friends at the table"


These plates might help save you from some of those scolding Mommy moments.


HAPPY WEEKEND!











Thursday, September 15, 2016

Gucci Geeks Unite. Happiness is a Silly Outfit!


Look away if you're not embracing the "Maximalist" style of fashion that broke out all over


this Summer.  Alessandro Michele at Gucci seemed to have been the worst "offender"


if you are inclined to see it this way.  I did not think America would go for this flamboyant


exuberant, cartoony, colorful look which so speaks


to the fourteen-year old in me.  (I am of Hawaiian and Italian extraction - so - you know?!  More is more!)


Where the concept of "Cruise" quite fits in


to this 2016 Collection is perhaps not a conversation we need to have.  But whether or not boats are


involved, I've had a look in the shops and even Zara, ground zero for basic black Euro-chic


is rocking the geeky


and flying the freak flag.


Who would you like to be today?  Florence Welch?


or Tavi Gevinson?  (God, I love it!  Where do I start?  The skirt, the shoes, the sleeves, the dogs...)


Me?  I would like to be ME.  This is SO!  (Madeline in Mexico)  ME!

Oh to be very young again and shopping Gucci!  You know, sometimes fashion just has to be fun.  And this seriously IS.