On my desk......

Dear Friends...

Grey skies sit over Surrey and I am enjoying the peace and quiet of home.

I felt an enormous sense of relief today. I have spent the last week waiting on 

 a chest x-ray as a result of this silly flu that has been lingering weeks on end.

I am sure you can imagine what a weeks worth of google searches resulted in :)

I was so relieved to hear that my lungs are clear...a huge weight was lifted.

I filled the air with music, carried on with my consumption of green tea,

sat at my desk and took a deep sigh...carefully. 

(the cough still lingers.)

I thought of a post and wasn't sure where to start.

I looked around and realised

it was right in front of me, my desk,

and on it sits....

My collection of cards waiting for a recipient...

 My lovely New Zealand paua shell heart from friends Lisa and Susan 

and a sweet little blue star from my long time friend Kathy. 

We met the first day of college in 1979 and I remember it like it was yesterday.

On my desk...a writing pad covered with some of my favourite pictures...

Thatcher Island Twin Lights along Cape Ann...

A little cottage by the sea in Rockport...

and a row of Adirondack chairs in an open field in New Hampshire.

A reminder to sign up for a photography class 

at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

A few recent book purchases...

and a little inspiration from my daughter Claire

Something I hold near and dear from my blogging world...

beautiful words about Collage of Life

from Christina at River Rose.

Those scribbles that I never seem able to throw away...from

posts written long ago...

  

My colourful little Chinese friend to remind 

me that everything has a way of working out.

and last but not least just because I love this painting...

'The Room with a View' 

by Duncan Grant 1919

Painting of Vanessa Bell 

at home in Charleston, Sussex

more here

How about you, what sort of keepsakes do you keep on your desk?

images~me

Gorgeous Grace Giveaway

The Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibit opened last week 

at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 

The buzz around town in the magazines, 

papers and online is that it is an exhibit not to be missed.

 After seeing it last week, I have to agree. 

 

That gorgeous gal from Philadelphia 

who went on to become one of Hollywood's leading ladies

and onto further stardom as the memorable 

Princess Grace of Monaco has us all talking again. 

The exhibition spans four decades of fashion and focuses 

on her spectacular wardrobe as both actress and princess.  

If you follow Grace thru her films you will recognize dresses 

from High Society, Rear Window along with the dress 

she wore to accept her Academy Award for The Country Girl.  

Her haute couture wardrobe from the 1960's and 1970's is also on display. 

Some of her favourite Paris couturiers at the time were Christian Dior, 

Cristobal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent. 

The detail on each garment is stunning.

Film and video footage intermingled with the displays offered a close-up study of woman who epitomized both the glamour of Hollywood and the allure of European Royalty. 

What I enjoyed most, was remembering Grace Kelly. 

My mother was married one year after Grace and I imagine 

my mother had many sketches of Grace Kelly's dress by her side 

as she planned her own. Growing up I followed her eldest daughter, 

Caroline, Princess of Hanover, as we were born the same year. 

What I remember most about Grace Kelly at the time 

was her role as mother to her children. 

She was 52 when she passed away. 

Too young for her children and many more. 

* * * * * * * * 

For more on the exhibit visit www.vam.ac.uk

If you plan to be in London before the 20th September, 

be sure put this event in your diary. Order tickets online as

I made the mistake of trying to get them on the day. 

Lucky for me, I was able to purchase tickets for the next day. 

If you are a fan of Grace Kelly...don't miss it!

There is more.....

it just so happens that 

this post is my 300th! 

I completely missed the passing of 100 and 200.

It also happens to coincide with 100 posts 

at my other blog, In One Place.

What a busy thing I have been since October :)

Giveaway...

To celebrate, I would like to share with you a Giveaway,

this amazing 2 CD collection  of 1950s music inspired 
by the glamorous world of Grace Kelly. 
Artists include: Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, 
Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr, 
Dean Martin and Nat King Cole. All the greats!
The sound quality is superb!

Leave a comment and the name of your favourite perfume....

All you need to do is leave a comment with one little extra bit of information.

I read that Prince Rainer of Monaco had a signature scent created for Grace for their wedding day. It still exists today, Fleurissimo by Creed

Do you have a signature scent or a favourite perfume?

I have and I would love to know yours.

The Giveaway closes on Sunday 9 May at 6:00 pm.

Images from Grace Kelly Style

B-Well Report

Collage of Life~one woman's view

In One Place~thinking about a creative life

Finding My Way~ discovering England

B-Well Report~ wellness

Walking With Grace

London is abuzz with the opening of the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibit

 this weekend at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

If you are living in London or planning to visit, don't miss it!

17 April - 26 September 2010

Sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels

Fashion, Room 40

Admission charge will apply

"The spectacular wardrobe of Grace Kelly will be on display at the V&A. Tracing the evolution of her style from her days as one of Hollywoods most popular actresses in the 1950s and as Princess Grace of Monaco, the display will present over 50 of Grace Kelly's outfits together with hats, jewellery and the original Hermès Kelly bag. Dresses from her films, including High Society, will be shown as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar award in 1955. These will be accompanied by film clips and posters, photographs and her Oscar statuette. The display will also include the lace ensemble worn by Grace Kelly for her civil marriage ceremony to Prince Rainier in 1956 and 35 haute couture gowns from the 1960s and 70s by her favourite couturiers Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and Yves St Laurent."

Image 1   www.net-a-porter.com

Image 2 and text  www.vam.ac.uk

~Victoria and Albert Museum~

I had enough of snow days (#3) today and packed the kids off on the train for a day at the Victoria and Albert Museum. A perfect day to view: 

Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts

I am speechless. The world of the maharajas and their culture was beyond anything I could imagine. This exhibition covers the period from the beginning of the 18th century to the mid-20th century. It is rich in history with over 250 amazing objects. Pictures were not allowed which was a shame because their was so much I would have loved to share. I did come across this stunning necklace which was the most incredible thing I have ever seen.

Maharaja of Patiala

In addition to Saris and jewelry commisioned from Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels there was this little treasure, Cartier's Patiala Necklace.  It was made for the Maharaja of Patiala in 1928. When completed it had 2,930 diamonds with the pale yellow diamond in the center (size of a golf ball) weighing 234.69 carats. The necklace was sold in bits and pieces by the family over time. Cartier restored the necklace (cubic zirconium) and they say it now looks like the original to the untrained eye. No matter to me, it glittered, it sparkled it made me go weak at the knees. I now appreciate the meaning of 'diamonds are a girls best friend'. Besties forever in my book!

I couldn't leave without taking a photo of this dear angel.

..and of course there is always the gift shop. 

I have a weakness for museum gift shops. 

Ok, maybe I spent a bit longer in the gift shop than I should have....but it was fun!

I bought a book and postcards...I was a good girl:)

on the way home...a quick pic of the Natural History Museum.

Snow day #3 accomplished. It is the weekend. Hooray!

Hope you have a sensational one!!

Information on necklace sourced from The Sikh Foundation

Image of Marahaja of Patiala from Sikh.p.u.l.s.e.

Image of Patiala necklace https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u2j89fByEWM96znfmKMxfOaipyrCGvCdt_8N7gpvBEyyYpPQsp3AdVhXSYehbBZQuBckBgdKYws_GIP6SOQin_IRtJe1pkod7EEMxrMTv5dQjUaPHauAz4yLPXKn0CVxkQHInPA_OTt8/

Last image of Natural History Museum taken by me