old harry house: mid century modern

From my pre-digital, pre-streetstyle days: a weekend at our friends' house, in Poole, named Old Harry House, after the rocks, shown above when we went out sailing with them.

I am obsessed - absolutely craving - minimalism and mid century modernism.

As always - boats against the current - I'm drawn to the same themes. Can't resist a self portrait, for example, reflected in glass. And while I'm usually using a favourite pair of shoes, for scale, their little grey dog proved a useful prop.

sens & serendipity

Spiritual as I like to believe I am, there are things in this world that make me happy.

Amongst my favourite things are scented products, and I'm a fool for packaging. So when these four Panier des Sens en Provence products arrived in the post, and they turned out to feel and smell not just as good as I'd hoped, but better.. I cannot believe the quality of these creams and lotions. The lavender feels like a day in Andalusia, at a spa that had a lavender field, and we were offered armfuls, and drove off with it in the boot of the car, making my husband and I dizzy with hay fever.. I'm sniffing one hand as I type, the one with Energizing Verbena, so deeply lemony and fresh and also, pure essence of flowers.. and the Rose. What can I say. I love them all equally.

And with my current obsession with interiors that are light, modern, and minimal, these products sit like pretty bits of jewelry, or wild flowers in a vase. I love that contrast.

I feel like Julie Andrews, singing that song, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.. as I was shooting these, the sun burst through the clouds, and the cat, sleeping lazily next to me, looked up. He must have been dreaming he was in the South of France. I love that kind of happy accident. Serendipity.

From left to right: Energizing Verbena hand creme, Rejuvenating Rose and Relaxing Lavender body lotions, and Soothing Provence massage oil, all natural, all organic, all made in Provence, all available now from Ashleigh & Burwood, London.

for nella

For Nella, who was having surgery in Sweden yesterday, while I took this photo, in London, in Holland Park. Each tulip, so uniquely beautiful, showing me how profoundly fleeting life is. We only ever have this moment.

For Nella's daughter, Micha, and her fiance, David, and their children.

For my Mother, and my Father.

For my husband.

For love.