On the last day of April, I thought it would appropriate to share a few photos I have taken over the past few days. It has been dreary here in NYC, but the sun is out this morning and everything is more vivid. The leaves, grass, & blooms are bright and full of life. Of course the rain washes many of the blossoms away, so I took my camera out and from under my umbrella I tried to capture the blooms in my neighborhood for fear they would all blow & melt away. I also posted for the first time in White Space Wednesdays. I love getting inspiration from flickr groups, there are so many great ones, but this is my latest favorite. I took a photo of one of my favorite sources of inspiration, Kate T. Williamson's book, "A Year In Japan" and posted it to the group. I encourage you to check out both the book & the group for inspiration!

I am really loving mint & cream hues today. This color combo has a soft, ethereal feel that is perfect for summer. My mini obsession with these shades probably began with this lovely Diana camera pictured below. It is gorgeous--I suppose it is only fair for your camera to be as beautiful as the photos you take with it! Furthermore, the dresses, shoes, & necklace will look great on 120 film. :)




Diana Dreamer $60 Pre-order @ Urban Outfitters; Chie Mihara Boutonniere Sandals $328 @ Anthropologie; Corsage Necklace $168 @ Anthropologie; Walkabout Dress $158 @ Anthropologie; Juicy Couture Dot detail sundress $260 @ Net-A-Porter;

Racing has been a reoccuring theme for me this weekend as I spent all day yesterday clutching my Wii Wheel as I played Nintendo's latest release MarioKart. The game is awesome of course, but then again so is Kate Spade's Spring 2008 ad campaign with its Soap Box Derby theme!!! The campaign was shot in Northumberland by Tim Walker with a group of eight year old girls & boys participated in a live event. Each of the cars are mini pieces of art work, including a ladybug, a sailboat, and an airplane. The ladybug is of course my favorite...who can resist that helmut?

Diana Fayt is a San Francisco based artist & ceramicist who creates gorgeous hand made pieces using a painstaking process. Many of her pieces are hand painted with simple yet intricate illustrations, not unlike a sketchbook come to life in 3D form. Her pieces are beautifully glazed and are a great way for you to add a pop of color on your favorite shelf.  

Bright-hued handbags are all the rage this spring and it makes me want to toss my basic black bags aside and go for a scene stealing color. Whatever your favorite hue is, you are bound to find (at least) one bag that suits your style below in the handbag color wheel I have compiled! While I have been dreaming about the spring bags from Dior(#18)& Prada (#12, &#15), the Botkier mini duffle in pink (see #11) was surely made with me in mind! Pink has always been a favorite color of mine, (what can I say, I'm a girly-girl through & through), but I can honestly say that the below selection makes me wish I could carry a different colored hand bag every day of the week (some days of course I could double up on colors as I could carry a different colored clutch for going out!) These bags may embrace untraditional color schemes, but they promise to be amazingly versatile and will have you rethinking the term neutral by season's end!

I've become obsessed with the Mayle Spring/Summer 2008 collection which was inspired the Manat exhibition at the MOMA and has a slight Mexican funeral theme. In creating the collection designer, Jane Mayle,

The embroidery, cut-outs, and floral prints have me swooning.  I am dying to get my hands on the charcoal Florinda jersey dress with its flamingo hued floral embroidery!!

Even the inspiring collage that appears on the Mayle has me in love! Wherever I go it seems Mayle is threatening to make a dent in my spring wardrobe budget! My favorite looks from the Spring 2008 Mayle collection are pictured below!

View the entire Spring Mayle collection right here

Kate Phillips, of Charmfoundry, creates beautiful encaustic collage drawings & paintings that are simply wonderful!  Limited edition prints of Kate's "Waxy Drawings" (as she calls them) are affordable, and would be a wonderful addition to  my growing print collection!

{clockwise} Calling Cards of Mysterious Ladies - no.3 (limited edition print) $18; The nets were cast-detail (large) - (limited edition print) $20; Star-gazing (limited edition print) $25; Salting the sea - (limited edition print) $25; all @ Charmfoundry

See more of Kate's work on flickr & charmfoundry.com

Now that summer weather is officially upon us, I have had time to access my spring/summer shoe collection. As I was choosing my favorites I quickly noticed an ongoing theme...wedge sandals are my favorite summer shoe style. Toss your flip flops aside...wedges will make your legs look fab & you will be comfortable as well! Here are a few of my favorite styles & colors for the season:

NYLON TV is offering an up close look at the clothing, make up in the Blake Lively + Leighton Meester photo shoot. The best part of the shoot? Probably the shoes!!! Oh the shoes! Check it out below:



Also, this week's episode of Gossip Girl was pretty great...

Here is a few clips from this week's episode:

We have had some gorgeous spring weather lately in NYC. I have been trying to capture the spring blooms before they all fall. Here are some photos I took this week:


I hope to take out the Polaroid around the neighborhood today. Hopefully there will be more beautiful shots to share!

Lately I have had the urge to mix up my spring & summer wardrobe with a bit of subtle graphic prints that can be worn alone or with bold/bright colors. These finds are versatile but are far from boring!


::top:: Kerry Cassill drawstring waist dress $130 @ Bird; Miu Miu Geometric print skirt $590 @ Net-A-Porter; Olivia Morris Erin ballet flats $565 @ Net-A-Porter;
Sunshine & Shadow Linen Check Tank- Black $198 @ Creatures of Comfort; Double Reflection Peep-Toes $98 @ Anthropologie; Alisha Levine T-Back Tank $154 @ Basic Boutique; Twinkle Spring Awakening $198 @ Basic Boutique; Sunshine & Shadow White Linen Tank Dress $253 @ Creatures of Comfort; Julie Haus Clara Dress $374 @ Basic Boutique;

::middle:: Paul & Joe Sister Kimono Print Dress $239 @ Otte; Mociun pocket smock shirt $190; Wayne Open Back Mini Dress $600 @ Saks; Les Prairies Des Paris Soko Dress $415 @ La Garconne; Secrets of Charm short sleeve silk dress $315 @ Bird; Ulla Johnson Willett Dress $330 @ Basic Boutique; Sunshine & Shadow Printed Denim Tote Bag $158 @ Bird via refinery 29 shops; Heritage Stripe Tank $88 @ Anthropologie;

::bottom:: Sunshine & Shadow Silk Tank Dress- Grey Print $355 @ Creatures of Comfort; 3.1 Phillip Lim Ruffled Mini Dress $695 @ La Garconne; Ivana Helsinki Dress $310 @ Beklina; Zimmermann Python Rolled Sleeve Dress $249 @ La Garconne; Graphic Novel Blouse $68 @ Anthropologie; Edun Requiem Dress $282 @ Otte; Dace Candi Dress $220 @ Rare Device; Virginia Johnson Tunic $170 @ Beklina;

I am loving these original milk carafes from Three Potato Four!
The graphic numbers signify the ounce capacity of each bottle, and $1 of every purchase benefits the Action Against Hunger organization.

Three Potato Four Milk Bottle Carafe - 32 oz. $32; Three Potato Four Milk Bottle Carafe - 8 oz. $22;

Today I am loving all things red.  There is something alluring about bold red prints & red piping.  Given that red is one hue that is under-represented in my closet, I would love to add a few choice red accessories and flirty mini-dresses to the mix!  Check out some of my fave crimson picks below!

together gallery, originally uploaded by graciesparkles.

The Together Gallery in Portland presently has an exhibit featuring new works by Seth Neefus. , Amy Ruppel. , and Jill Bliss. I am a huge fan of all of the artists, but the detail, color, and line work in Jill Bliss' art never ceases to amaze me. Above is photo of the installment of Jill's work at the gallery as spied in gracie sparkles' flickr photostream.

Below are some of the works available for purchasing at the gallery:




{top} Jill Bliss "Scallop House 2" $550; Jill Bliss "Grow 1" $325; Jill Bliss "Ghost House" $275; all @ The Together Gallery



{bottom} Jill Bliss "Porch House" $325; Jill Bliss "Shed House" $325; Jill Bliss "Mouth House" $325; Jill Bliss "Scallop Tree House" $400; all @ The Together Gallery




View & purchase other works featured in The Color of Nature exhibit here

Wedding season is fast approaching and it is my favorite time of year! Who doesn't love weddings? If you are getting hitched or know someone who is you must stop by my friend Abby's blog, "I thee wed". Abby uses her discerning eye to pull together some of the most elegant and creative wedding ideas and inspiration on her blog so be sure to check it out right here!

Of course, I have every intention of marrying Prince William and having a wedding reminiscent of Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier's. (Wish me luck with that!!)

In all seriousness, that wedding was one of the most gorgeous weddings of all time. See below for a bit of vintage wedding inspiration:

The above images are of Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier's religious ceremony (they had a civil ceremony as well) that took place on April 19, 1956 at the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco.

Wedding details:

• 6 bridesmaids wearing yellow organdy dresses, six junior attendants (4 girls, 2 boys) all dressed in white
• Prince Rainier wore a military uniform he designed himself.
• Grace Kelly wore a long-sleeved Helen Rose gown (a gift from MGM Studio), that was made from 25 yards of silk taffeta, 100 yards of silk net, peau de soie, tulle and 125-year-old Brussels rose point lace.
  
• Grace also wore a Juliet cap that was adorned with seed pearls & orange blossoms and a veil of 90 yards of tulle. Grace carried a small Bible and a bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. {source}

This phrase is commonly attributed to Marie Antoinette* who I find to be one of the most fascinating historical figures.

*Historians have not found any evidence that Marie Antoinette ever said this, and believe the phrase was originally uttered by the wife of Louis XIV.

Regardless, I couldn't resist these prints!



9x12 inch"let them eat cake" screen prints in wedding mint & bubblegum $12 each at blulima



{via just my cup of tea}

Today, I splurged on this Isabel Marant dress...

Here are my favorite looks from the collection:

View the collection on the runway:

Images via Isabel Marant

Purchase Isabel Marant at Curve, Bird, Diani, Worthwhile, Stuart & Wright, Impulse Seattle, or find a boutique here