{Around the World}...

... today a round-up of creative beings from around the globe:

 AUSTRALIA - (Sydney) - What Katie Ate

BELGIUM - Belgian Pearls

CANADA - (Toronto) - The Marion House Book

 CANADA - Haute Design by Sarah Klaussen

FRANCE - (Paris) - Rive Gauche Rehab 

 FRANCE - (Médoc) - Manger

 GREECE - (Heraklion, Crete) -  My Paradissi

ITALY - (Rome) -Boiserie & Co.

 NETHERLANDS - (Amsterdam) - Lifestyle from Amsterdam to Marrakesh

FINLAND - Sanctuary

NORWAY - Modern Country

 POLAND - Pokryte Patyna

 PORTUGAL - Pratos & Travessas

SOUTH AFRICA - (Capetown) - Roses and Rust

SPAIN - Desde My Ventana

SWEDEN - (Trollhättan) - Made in Persbo

 UNITED KINGDOM - (Lincolnshire) - The Paper Mulberry

UNITED STATES - (New York) - The Satorialist

Our ever-expanding {Around the World} link list 

can always be found on our main page.  Each time you 

visit l&l, we invite you to scroll down and see the latest

 offerings from these talented & inspiring individuals.  

HOLLAND - Room Seventeen

cloches zilver - one of many beautiful items from her web shop:

Room 17 WOONACCESSORIES

on pinterest:  {Around the World}

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Artist's Studio

A dedicated creative space in every home...imagine how life-enhancing –world-enhancing– that would be.

above images via Antiek Amber

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from the ARCHIVES:

A concert on the beach:  Amadou and Mariam

A Night at the Museum: Luis Meléndez and Audrey Hepburn

April Airs and Bliss

Around the World with Arany Zoltan

art and rustic elegance

Art et Decoration

Art Feature – Wade Hoefer

art in the everyday Artful Living

Artisan Feature – Brocchi Workshop

Artist Feature:  Léon Bonvin, b.1834 Paris - d,1866 Mouden, France

artistic placement

Ceramic Artist: Marc Albert

For the Love of Italy

Fresco

I Dolci

Is this what we might call...

Kiss Me Again

LÁmoureuse

Luis Meléndez
Luis Meléndez at LACMA

Negative space...

Noa = movement and light

Paris is mad!

Saladino Style and Guiding Principle (Vermeer)

Still Life

Take me there.  (travel photography)

Wade Hoefer

Wade Hoefer - 2

What we're working on (and listening to)...

above still life images by Mike Newton via

A Passion for Fruit by Lorenza de Medici

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Window of Opportunity

As I came into the house after a frustrating day, I found a fly persistently trying to get out through a fixed window in our dining room. As usual (that is to say, as I have seen many a fly do), he was repeatedly bumping in to the glass, emitting a litany of frustrated curses each time:   Buzz!... Buzzzz!… Buzzzzzz! 

He was growing more and more agitated at each attempt.

I tried to help. There was an open window just inches away from where he was and I tried to guide him that way; waving my hand, then fluttering the curtain at him to shoo him in the right direction. This only succeeded in irritating him further.      BUZZZZZZZZ!   as he hit the glass again. 

“I’m just trying to help you!” I said. “Why are you being so stubborn?! Can’t you see it’s wide open right next to you, you silly fly!”

That’s when I laughed. I suddenly got it. The entire way home I had been asking the Universe why something wasn’t turning out the way I had planned. Something I had worked at and had been pushing so hard to make happen, wasn’t working out. 

Thanks to my stubborn little friend, I was suddenly aware that I had been banging my head against the proverbial wall. And like my single-minded friend, I too hadn’t thought to look at other options. 

It was so easy to see, really. I just needed to shift my perspective ever so slightly and there it was, clear as day; a much better path to where I ultimately wanted to go. Why had I been so closed-minded? Why had I so doggedly pursued the one option when I knew it wasn’t working?

Here’s my reminder to myself and my advice to you, dear reader: When something isn’t going your way, take a moment to sit in meditation:  Be still. Be open.  Allow creativity to flow through you.  What’s best for you might not look exactly like you expected it to, so be open to another way.  Limitless resources exist, so quiet the chattering mind with all of its “do’s” and “don’ts” and its “can’ts,” “shouldn’ts” and “won’ts."

Believe if you knock that it will indeed be opened unto you.  —Just don’t get lost rapping on doors and miss the windows that have been open to you all along.

All my best,

photograph by LeAnn, Italy 2007

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Dream Day

My dream day?  Well, it comes in many forms but what immediately comes to mind is travel.  I love to travel and see the world  – to explore another place, another culture, another way of doing things.   I always return with a fresh perspective and charged with creativity energy.

Today, the time I spent capturing the light in my garden sent me into a peaceful, meditative state  -a bit of inside travel, you might say.  A gentle breeze perfumed the air and with these intricate beauties beckoning me, I was on my way—

 

images by LeAnn, "Rose Splendor"

linenandlavender.blogspot.com

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Infinite possibilities...

November Topic Assignment:

Name the thing/person/place you've always wanted to experience.

Dream that money is no object.

Tell the world what you've always wanted to do, but just haven't done yet.

Anyone who knows me, knows I dream of owning an estate in Italy.  The location I imagine is on a hillside with an expansive view.  The setting offers a feeling of seclusion yet within close proximity to several beautiful villages in an area just outside of Firenze. 

Mind you, I don't just want to live there, I want to share this with others and do what I love to do:  Create an extraordinary atmosphere for guests to enjoy...the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation.  I see a peaceful place that uplifts and inspires; a unique combination of amenities, services and activities born of my own travel experiences and passions. 

     

Rather than leave it as a swirling, abstract dream, I began writing down intricate details describing every aspect imaginable from what types of people would be working with me to bring this to fruition to the features in every room.

I have pages and pages describing the vision I have for this place.  In my mind's eye I have seen the view from every window, the food, the festivities, the books in the library.  I have sketched elevations and floor plans (it has an internal courtyard) and I have imagined every detail of the kitchen, the baths–even the poolside furniture.  I can see what is growing in the gardens, the mature trees and the proximity to the olive grove with meandering paths that lead to meditation spots on the property.   —It makes my heart sing to visit  these pages!

Though it may seem to the contrary after reading the above, I am open to other locations.  I've always been drawn to Italy, but I am looking for properties that inspire me–wherever they might be in the world.

Like many of my fellow bloggers, I adore France and know it would be a wonderful place to realize this dream.  I have often said I have a sense of familiarity for many things French and have wondered if this is explained by a past life there?  Maybe.  Maybe that is why Italia has been calling to me so much in this one . . . new vistas to explore? 

In any case, there shall be no absolute conclusions.  I am open to France, Italy and . . . who knows where else? 

   Why put limits with infinite possibilities before us?!

In the hunt for my ultimate dream property, I came across the enchanting historical estate I share with you today called La Tuiliere

Yes.  It's in Provence, -no where near Firenze-  but  twist my arm...I think I could make a go of it here if I really had to. ;)

All images and descriptions provided by Frank Knight Properties

Considered to be one of the finest small estates in Provence, La Tuiliere dates from the late sixteenth century. The house has an unrivaled setting at the head of a beautiful south-facing valley, and is surrounded by over 40 acres of superb terraced gardens, meadows and woodland.

La Tuiliere

Four Reception Rooms ◆ Seven Bedroom Suites ◆ Two Bedroom Cottage ◆ Pigeonnier 

◆ 25m Heated Pool ◆ Tennis Court ◆ 40 Acres

◆ Dining Hall Ancient beamed ceiling, terracotta tiled floor,

stone fireplace, access to Circular Staircase.

◆ Kitchen with barrel-vaulted ceiling, excellent range of

limed oak cupboards with granite worktops; circular

granite sink, Lacanche cooker, historic bread oven.

◆ Long Gallery A very large room with an impressive barrel vaulted

ceiling and Louis XV stone fireplace, fitted

bookcases.

Ground Floor

◆ Dining Hall Ancient beamed ceiling, terracotta tiled floor,

stone fireplace, access to Circular Staircase.

◆ Grand Salon South-facing. French windows to terrace

and garden, stone floor, beautiful open fireplace with

carved stone overmantel.

◆ Study French window to formal garden, Louis XVI

fireplace, terracotta tiled floor.

◆ Guest Cloakroom and storeroom.

◆ Kitchen with barrel-vaulted ceiling, excellent range of

limed oak cupboards with granite worktops; circular

granite sink, Lacanche cooker, historic bread oven.

◆ Second Kitchen/Utility Room, larder, boiler room.

◆ Back Hall with Cloakroom.

◆ East Staircase leading to Long Gallery.

◆ Games/Cinema Room.

First Floor

◆ Long Gallery A very large room with an impressive barrel vaulted

ceiling and Louis XV stone fireplace, fitted

bookcases.

◆ Principal Bedroom Suite. Double-height bedroom facing

due south with wonderful valley views. Louis XV

moulded plaster ceiling. En suite bathroom, separate

shower and WC.

◆ Bedroom 2 having en suite dressing room with

ornamental fireplace, and en suite bathroom.

◆ Bedroom Suites 3 and 4, with private bathrooms.

◆ Studio Apartment (Bedroom 5). Independent access to

Entrance Courtyard, Sitting Room with stone fireplace,

kitchenette, Mezzanine Bedroom and bathroom.

Connecting door to East Staircase.

Second Floor

◆ Bedrooms 6 and 7, each with en suite bathroom.

Cottage

◆ Sitting/Dining Room, open-plan fitted kitchen, glazed

door to Entrance Courtyard.

◆ 2 Bedrooms and bathroom, independent heating.

◆ Private Walled Garden.

Gardens and Outbuildings

◆ Walled Entrance Courtyard with Pigeonnier Tower and

Dovecote.

◆ Stone Pillared Open Barn with parking for 4 cars.

◆ Summer Dining Room to seat 14.

◆ Pool House with bed/sitting room, shower room.

◆ Superb 25 metre heated Infinity Swimming Pool.

◆ Spectacular Terraced Gardens with magnificent Long

Borders, ruined Castillon, and 50 metre Formal Canal.

◆ Two Architectural Garden Follies and Obelisk

◆ Extensive Parkland with olive grove, meadows and pine

woods; exceptional distant southerly views.

◆ All-weather Tennis Court.

◆ In all about 40 acres.

..MEMBERS

(click to go to Splenderosa/Marsha Harris (founding member) for a complete list

of participants and links to their posts on this month's topic.

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