Green Twine

Garden chives wrapped in green twine.

This green garden twine is pleasing me very much these days.  I found it at the garden store and I've been using it for everything, it's a humble bit of string yet it's the perfect shade of green, just the thing for tying up some herbs from the garden.
I hopped on my bicycle the other evening to go visit a friend and I wrapped up these chives on my way out of the garden.  Garden chives are good in everything and like all herbs high in phytonutrients.  I'm adding them to lunch and dinner these days.
I'm planning to finish planting my herb and flower garden today.  I've got some Sweet Cicely going in, some Lovage and about twelve more lavender plants.
Have an excellent day Tooties.
xoxDani

Linen and Gold

JCrew Goldwyn Dress 2009

 I found a dress on ebay last month that I thought I'd share with you: the JCrew Goldwyn dress.
It is constructed of a natural linen with gold silk trim, I think it's so summery.

It has pockets.

You can see Gigi in this dress right here.  I think she looks amazing in it.

 The dress has this beautiful criss-cross back.  Look at the soft cotton lining.

 The skirt of the lining has a petticoat ruffle, such a pretty touch.  The inside hem is lined with a wide gold bias tape.  JCrew at one time excelled at these little dressmaker details.

I like the dress with my silver Chie Mihara sandals.  They have a gold buckle which sets off the iridescent sheen of the silver leather.

It's worth it to do a "pre-owned JCrew" search of ebay once in a while, these little treasures can be found and they are usually quite affordable.
Hope you are well and happy today.
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

May Flowers
The peonies in my own garden will be blooming soon and the excitement is palpable.

Plain and Simple Goldsign Jeans.
What I've been wearing.

I've been busy doing different things lately: working outside in the garden, trotting over to pilates class and tackling some big cleaning projects at home.  I think the change in activity has led to a change in what I'm actually wearing (as opposed to what I think I will be wearing).  I just want plain and simple right now.

I adore Goldsign jeans, they fit so well.  I like this pair in the dark navy wash, they almost don't look like jeans.  Paired with a fitted navy top it becomes a perfect base outfit: add a blazer, a scarf, a sweater, throw on some shoes, it doesn't matter, it's all going to look good and be easy.

Navy blue perfect-fit tee shirt.

 Speaking of blazers, can we talk about JCrew linen in the form of a throw-on yet polished jacket?  You might remember that I have a JCrew blazer in white linen that I bought last year in New York City.  Yup, I still wear that thing all the time.  Sometimes I want a neutral, slightly longer option and my eye has been lighting on this one:

Linen jacket in khaki.

 The thing about a khaki jacket is this: you can wear it with navy, but it also looks terrific with a base outfit in black cotton.

Basic black cotton capri pants.

Long pencil skirt in black cotton.

Again with the simple tee shirt, but in black.

 Or white, khaki is brilliant with white.

Goldsign jeans in ecru wash.

Goldsign skirt in ecru wash.

I might pump up my wardrobe of basics from JCrew.  (There is a tempting offer right now for Canadians: code GMCAN15 gets you 25% off your entire purchase with free shipping and free returns, good until June 30th.  This means you don't have to Pay To Try On.)
My eye is not drawn to prints or fancy fabrics right now, but sturdy cotton in basic reliable colours.  I haven't been pre-occupied with dressing in such a non-fussy way in many years.  I seem to be channeling colour and design in different areas: my outfits are plain but my garden is looking promising!
What is keeping you busy?  Are you looking at prints and colours or are you drawn to a more basic wardrobe like I am these days?
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Book Club

The Portrait of a Lady
Henry James

 I am really excited about this first book club selection and I hope that you will read this novel, one of my all-time favourites, along with me so that we can have a good chat about it.  We'll meet here on Saturday, June 29th to begin our book club discussion.  Of course the post will remain open so if you can't check in on that first meeting day please feel free to drop in at any time.

 Henry James was born in New York City in 1843 to a privileged and well-educated family and spent his youth traveling in Europe.  He attended Harvard Law School briefly but realized he wanted to focus on his writing, by all accounts he was a hard worker and enjoyed early success as a novelist.
His older brother, William James, was an important American philosopher.

 I first read The Portrait of a Lady nearly twenty years ago but it is one of those novels that has really stayed with me.  I'm certainly curious to read it again and observe the effect the novel will have on my thinking at this stage of my life.

 Henry James excelled at observing Americans living in Europe and his style of psychological realism really explores the idea of the individual American personality set in the "old-world" customs of European society.

 The Portrait of a Lady was written in the 1880's but went on to undergo revisions in 1908.  It is considered by many to be Henry James' greatest work.

 It has been published many times and it was fun for me to find these different book covers.  I hope that you will be able to find a copy in your local library or in a used book store.

 I decided to buy my own copy of the book to celebrate the occasion, it's one I'd like my daughters to read as well so hopefully I'll be sharing it around my household.
If you'd like to buy a copy you can check out this option on amazon.com.
Here is an option on amazon.ca.
Last but not least, here is the amazon.uk option.

 I hope that you'll join me on the 29th of June for our first book club, and if you don't care for the selection this time around check back in July, maybe you'll enjoy the next classic pick.

Happy reading my friends and enjoy your weekend!
xoxDani

Denim and Delft

 I just had to add a couple of things from Brora to my summer wardrobe.  It started with my frying neck.  Do you experience this phenomena?  It doesn't seem to matter how much sunscreen I slather all over my neck and upper chest, the sun still burns my skin.  I don't know how that happens but I have the answer to The Neck Fry: a linen scarf from Brora.

Linen Stripe Scarf in Delft Blue

 The scarf is a beautiful loose linen weave in the most tremendous shade of delft blue with a slight gray stripe running through it.  It looks great with white, with navy, black and denim.

 Speaking of denim I ordered this Cotton Textured Cardigan from Brora as well, in the colour Denim.

It has five stars in the ratings because it is indeed a five star sweater.  I'm wearing mine over a plain navy tee shirt, Goldsign jeans and the delft blue linen scarf.  The cardigan has a chunky knit yet it is light and fresh on the body, it blocks the sun (and I love the long sleeves) but it doesn't overheat.

Happy Day, Dollfaces!
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I've been thinking about this concept we've talked about : Mop Philosophy Book Club.  I have an idea: I think we should read classic books.  I have a couple of reasons for this, one being that the classics are easier to find at libraries etc, the other being that contemporary novels already have nine million reviews and discussion groups online.  I discovered this when I googled Life After Life, Kate Atkinson's new book (which I recommend by the way).
I think we'd want to run the Book Club every six to eight weeks, which would give us plenty of time to read the novel, compile some theory behind the book, and think on what we've taken from the novel as Mop Philosophers like to do.
What do you think?  You can yea or nay in the comments and if there are enough "yea's" for the classic book idea I'll put the first Mop Philosophy Book Club book out later this week.  Of course if you are a "yea" and you have suggestions please leave those in the comments too.

Beet salad with fresh thyme.

Well it's a Monday and you know what that means: cleaning.  Specifically today I'm giving the kitchen a real clean, then I'll be making a beet salad to go along with some roasted chicken we're having for dinner.
I hope your own Monday goes well and that all of your chores get crossed off your list!
xoxDani

Happy Mother's Day

Orazio Gentileschi
Le Repos de la Sainte Famille
1628

*All pictures of statuary taken at the Louvre October 2012.
*Detail of painting also from the Louvre, October 2012.


Have a wonderful day whatever you're doing!
xoxDani

Mop Philosophy Monday

 I've decided to plant a flower garden this year and the excitement is palpable.  Really there was an air of general delirium this past weekend with our first taste of spring sunshine and heat.

I've given up my idea of growing vegetables on my own, not much of a farmer really.  I think I'd rather go buy vegetables from real farmers at the market.   This leaves a big sunny space in my garden to grow flowers for cutting.

I'll be growing some flowers from seeds and crossing my fingers that the full sun will do most of the work.

 I bought some plants at the nursery.  I don't know about you but I go crazy buying plants at the nursery, I managed to control myself by bringing this small basket.  I made myself leave after I filled it.

We went for a hike in the woods.  

 I think moss in the sunshine is one of the most beautiful sights on this fair Earth.

Our provincial flower, the Trillium, is out.  This is a special event as it only lasts two weeks or so in the spring.

It means the cold winter is over and the gardens are back!
I hope you had a lovely weekend and that your own Monday is extra fine.
xoxDani

Wearing Linen

 I love linen for summer but not the fancy sort.  Forget about trying to wear linen suits or trousers, you'll end up a rumpled mess.  I like linen as a casual focal point, paired with something sharp and worn on the weekends.
I'd wear the Organic Linen Printed Skirt, above, with a simple clean-lined tank top in either white or navy, slim fitted and no-fuss.

I adore the linen shirt, below.  It is the Organic Linen Printed Smock in "sky flower".  I'm crazy for blue and white just now, and this pattern is so pretty and fresh.  I'd wear the smock with a pair of close fitting cropped jeans in any wash, dark or light.  Or with white denim: now you're talking.

 More of the sky blue... this Textured Linen Skirt would be so pretty with a simple plain white tee shirt. Add your sneakers and your beach bag.

Sky Blue

Linen and Cotton Textured Jumper

 The linen jumper in the same tones is the perfect summer sweater.  Again I'd keep it really simple: white denim jeans or pencil skirt, hair in a pony tail, some espadrille sandals, gin and tonic.

One of the stand-out pieces of Brora's summer collection is this Organic Linen Tunic.  It comes in this stunning Matisse cobalt blue but it also comes in white: dreamy.

It's finally warm enough that I can start thinking about wearing linen!  If I was to add anything to my spring and summer closet I'd throw in a couple of these casual linen pieces: really feminine yet so easy to wear.
Are you buying any linen this summer?
xoxDani