Master Bedroom

Interiors inspiration: the master bedroom at Palacio de Santa Coloma in Seville, via World of Interiors magazine. Travelling by proxy... I searched very hard for this image online - with no avail. Proof that sometimes print publications are best!

Shirt

I love this Vintage shirt of my Mum's which I've been wearing for years now. Sensing it probably had a good story behind it, I text Mum... 'I bought it in Valencia, Spain in 1978 on the docks'. Well that is quite good isn't it.

 

Cañas with Mum

With so much more time on my hands at the moment, and with so much to think about - I find myself turning to my sewing bag for some relief

I embroidered a photograph for my wonderful Mum for Mother's Day - cañas and calamari sandwiches in Madrid, a treasured lunch repeated many times over the years. Something to look forward to when the world calms down a bit. The food, drink and sun - but mostly my Mum.

Souvenir

Thrilled with this hand thrown, painted and glazed jug I bought in Spain earlier this summer. It reminds me of the kind of pottery my parents had around the house when I was growing up - gems collected after years of them living abroad. So happy to have one of my own.

Spanish Refreshment

Drinks - both small and large, and a calamari sandwich in central Spain last week. 

Chains of Protection

Couple from Salamanca, 1912

Joaquín Sorolla

An image from the brilliant Sorolla: Master of Light exhibition at the National Gallery.

The couple wear their betrothal outfits, the woman resplendent in chains and necklaces of corals, medallions and reliquaries all of which are symbols of protection.

The exhibition closes on 7th July 2019.

Mountain Living

A long weekend in the late Spring Sunshine in Mallorca - just what the doctor ordered.

Sorolla

'A Rose Bush at Sorolla's House'

1918-19

 'Types from Salamanca'

1912

'Siesta'

1911

Paintings taken from 'Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light'

An uplifting and inspiring exhibition at The National Gallery at the moment - well worth a visit. I spent a very happy afternoon with the best Senorita I know thinking of many happy times spent in Spain.

Closes 7th July 2019

Late afternoon and early morning, Madrid

Just home from a few days in Spain - an adventurous train trip from Madrid to Seville with a couple of nights in the mountains. The start of the journey in Madrid was sandwiched with visits to one of my favourite bars near Atocha station, busy all day and through the night.

Some like it hot

Chillis and vegetables on sale in Inca, Majorca 2016

Andalusian Still Life

A blissful trip to Southern Spain where at times everything looked like it could be a painting

Lartigue in Colour

 Florette, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, 1954

Florette and Picasso, Vallauris, 1955

Taken from the beautiful and inspiring book A Life in Colour by Lartigue. Florette was Lartigue's wife of 41 years, and 27 years younger than the photographer. Breathlessly beautiful throughout.

Frills in Majorca, Sept 2016

 

Beach Breakfast

Majorca, September 2016

Hung Out To Dry

 Bikini still life + selfie

Oropesa, Spain

July 2016

Spain

A week of rest and reading... and gin and tonics and a delicious diet of beige

Lunch in Madrid at what I think is my favourite restaurant (ever).

Spain last week

Potentially my favourite meal ever - a beige (and v unfashion) one of Calamari and Cañas

Spain last week where I spent 3 nights on holiday with my Mum, enjoying a largely liquid diet. It was 42 degrees after all...

Fuerteventura

Last week Tessa and I went on our first ever all inclusive package holiday. There was lots of sunshine, swimming and German Nudists, much to our delight. It also offered the great opportunity of digging out my summer wardrobe and smugly putting it on before everyone else back home had donned theirs.... 

 

Sorolla's House

The tile theme continued  (see last week's Celine post): these are from the Spanish painter Sorolla's house in Madrid, which I visited last week before catching a flight home - with a heavy heart - after an amazing few days holiday.

Dreaming

I have been rudely awoken from the best dream that I never wanted to end.... Central Spain last weekend:

We started with a night in Madrid, my second favourite city, which involved Cañas, tortilla, roof top drinks and a midnight dinner

And then on to Oropesa by train (which we almost missed, having enjoyed dinner a little too much the night before...) Luckily we managed to squeeze in breakfast before we jumped on board, my favourite meal of the day

Note the unsual name of coffee stirrer and sugar packet....

This is the outskirts of village where we were staying, and have stayed a few times over the years. Full of sights and sounds that make me so happy, and I have definitely returned home refreshed.

 

So nice to have a chance to embrace summer clothing properly,  not that I packed very well and basically wore this for 4days

Trying not to make it look like all we did was drink...But really, one of these Gin and Tonics was worth the trip alone

 

In fact, so inspired am I buy this recent trip to Spain, that One Off is probably going to offer only Madrileña inspired outfits/flamingo dresses for the rest of the summer. Watch out.