Pale and Interesting (and Edible too!)

If these irresistible sugar-spun, lace-piped, glacé-coated, buttercream-frosted architectural confections are not destined to museum display cabinets, this is only due to their ephemeral nature (content), however they complement the most tasteful wedding tables, although according to Mirabelle you shouldn't require a special occasion to justify one of those to yourself: succumbing to temptation is a good enough excuse!

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings:

1. Quilted Wedding Cakes - Hawaiian Quilt-Inspired Wedding Cake
2. Bridal Shower Desserts - Knot- inspired Miniature Cakes
3. Quilted Wedding Cakes - Fondant-Covered Square Cakes
4. Bridal Shower Desserts - Ice Cream Cups.

Palm Springs: Playground of the Beautiful People

Every day is a holiday, and every holiday a poolside cocktail party, entertained by beautiful views stretching beyond the manicured lawns and over the sierra, while the hostess with the mostest and her chic lady friends strike a pose and discuss couture, husbands, children, travel, hobbies, gossip and young lovers... and not necessarily in that order.

Source: Poolside Gossip, by American jet-set photographer Slim Aarons (1970), featured on Photographers Gallery.

Cut & Paste with Hollie Chastain

Chattanooga collage artist Hollie Chastain gives vintage scraps of paper and old book covers a second life, whilst playing on their natural imperfections (scratches, marks, discolourations and even scribbles and doodles from the original owners!) to give her artwork depth, substance, uniqueness and a certain rawness too; in her own words, "The subject of the piece is often influenced by the materials as opposed to building around a sketch or idea".

Source: Respectively (1) 'After School' (giclée art print), (2) 'Gilbertville Public Library I' (giclée art print), (3) 'Adalyn's Party Trick 1' (art print), (4) 'That Thursday Evening' (art print) and (5) 'Community Chorus' (giclée art print), all the above prints are available for purchase from Hollie's Etsy shop. Find out more from Hollie's website and blog. Meanwhile her work is also featured on Poster Cabaret.

The World According to Julie Heffernan

Is it a microcosm or rather a macrocosm of self, delightfully interpreted by Surrealist artist Julie Heffernan on canvas, her symbolic vision of the world with nuances, light touches of colour, and admirably rich detailing, that invite spectators to explore and lose themselves in this total immersion experience, in this extrapolated imaginary world...

Pict 1-3: Respectively (1) Self -Portrait as Big World (oil on canvas, 2008), (2) Self-Portrait as Sky-Scraper, and (3) Self-Portrait as Big House. All sourced from Escape into Life: Julie Heffernan's Contructions of Self.

Grandeur & Decadence: Detroit's Michigan Central Station

The flipside of grandeur is decadence of dizzy-high proportions; nonetheless from the tragedy, from the combined obsolescence and degenerescence of the once-bustling station emanates solemn beauty at its most pared-down form, bathed in visual silence.

Pict 1-4: Michigan Central Station is one of Detroit USA's iconic derelict constructions. Built in 1913 it was sadly doomed as a white elephant, never achieving its full potential despite its credentials. Later in the 1970s, the motor town's changing fortunes further accelerated its demise. The station's future has been hanging in the balance since closing down in 1988 and demolition is now on the cards as the only viable option. That will be yet another Detroit symbol biting the dust. Photographic footage featured by Kevin Bauman on Behance. 

The American Dream Deluxe

Smooth, nipped, tucked, streamlined, aerodynamic, available in lipgloss pink with a flawless satin finish as standard; ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back a flavour of the American Dream Deluxe, best viewed in Cinemascope for splendid appreciation...

Source: Original advertisement feature of the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, available as a reproduction print from Plan59. Find out more about this classic supercar's breathtaking credentials from Supercars and Cartype.

Forever Floral Florilège

Now that the apotheosis of Winter has died down in a flurry of pine needles and discarded wrapping paper, and a brand new year is slowly unfolding to us with the promise of yet unbroken resolutions, what we seem to be resolute about is for a ray of sunshine to beam across our path, with floral enchantment breaking down the inclement weather all-around, so we may bask in the ephemeral reminiscence of Spring and the joys it comforts us in...

Pict 1-5: Respectively (1) Spray Flowers, (2) Briar Rose, (3) Rose, (4) Provence Rose, and (5) Candy Flowers, all by Cath Kidston, a lady of vision whose kitsch floral fabric designs have never been so popular than right now, thanks to the vintage revival scene. The company has even rescuscitated the word 'chintz' for one of its patterns, yes the once-doomed little word back at the height of the naughty noughties - and Ikea's bête noire - that conjured up ideas of fuddy-duddy style, tea-cosies and general old-fashioned grannytude!

Pict 6: Crochet double-sided gift wrap, by Smock (set of 2 USD8.00).

Pict 7: Blossoms on Green letterpress calendar handbound book, by Brooklyn-based Campbell Raw Press, also available via Felt & Wire (USD35.00).

Heart of Glass

Tucked away in the Montecito hills of Southern California is a delightful bijou box that playfully reinterprets spatial awareness, revealing to the outside world its inner self and ulterior desires/ motives while inviting the lush outdoors in for an architectural stone and glass-fest where the thin boundary line between inside and out gets blurred; geometrical purity, timeless modernism, quality materials (walnut wall cladding etc.), attention to detail beyond expectation, all packaged up in uncompromising couture luxury, and all yours for a cool price tag.

Source: The Glass Pavillion, Santa Barbara CA, is publicised for sale by Sotheby's International Realty. Property stats:

• Set within approx.3.5-acre oak grove estate
• Interior: approx. 1,289sq.m. (13,875sq. ft.)
• 5 bedrooms 
• 5 + 1/2 bathrooms
• Vast art gallery space/ display showroom
• Property ID: 0113311
• Sale price: USD28,500,000

Have a Nice Day!

Put on your Sunday best, wear a smile and your favourite perfume, tease your hair, slip into your heels, close the suitcase, pack the cupcakes, lock the front door, throw away the key, load the stationwagon and head off into the sun...

Here we go, Mirabelle!

Source:  From Shorpy, this 35mm Kodachrome transparency from June 1964 stars a 1960 Chevrolet stationwagon.