A Few Recent Faves

It's been a busy week around here but I had to share a few beautiful images that have across my desk recently.  Enjoy!

Stone, rosemary, oval window - so many beautiful details here!

I hope you found some new faves too!

I'm going to take a little break from blogging but I'll be back soon.

Have a great weekend!

Sources

Focus On Bali: Shopping

This will be my last post on Bali but the design impressions that I gained there will definitely continue to shine through in my design choices.  They have such a strong artistic element and love of nature & beauty that the possibilities for shopping were endless.  I could have bought four times what I did!  Here are just a few of my favorite things:

I bought one of these antique offering bowls, used in the past for the women to carry offerings to the temple on their heads.  I loved the history, the faded design and the beautiful display it would make on a table in our new home.

This old guy and his wife are going to have a new place to kneel:  on our fireplace mantel.

I bought a gorgeous antique textile for use along the bottom of our bed, or as a throw. 

I'll show you guys once it arrives in the shipment!

Bartering:  definitely the name of the game all over Bali.

I hope you enjoyed our little shopping trip.

Any favorites?

Focus on Bali: Design

I hope you're enjoying seeing some of our photos from Bali.  I really could go on and on with the images of nature and more, but I'll try to keep it in check.  :)

Here are a few design photos from some of the chicest places we dined in Bali.  This is definitely more of the modern, tourist side of the Bali experience, so it's not as authentic, but still with their beautiful interpretation of style:

Don't miss the copper lighting. 

More great lighting and a stunning floral display.

This petrified wood stool/side table inspired us to find one of our own.

More on that when it arrives in the US!

The water features are a bold move but great for this large space.

I have one more post about my shopping experiences but I'll give you guys a little breather first. 

More coming next week!

Focus on Bali: Balinese People

Today I thought I'd post a few of my favorite shots of the people we captured on film on our trip to Bali.  Most of you know how much I have traveled, and as anyone will tell you the people can make or break a vacation.  Never have I come across a more consistently happy, polite, honest and contended society than I did on Bali.  Of course after I uploaded these pictures I noticed that hardly any of the people were smiling!  So you'll just have to trust me:  they were smiling - a LOT.  :)

They have a secret that we all need to get in on.  They were absolutely lovely to us.  I know they have their own challenges, but hats off to this beautiful island for the ways of their people! 

Here goes...

My husband took this picture and I think it's my favorite "street scene" photo from the whole trip.

 I bought a beautiful batik tablecloth for my sister from this lovely lady.  She smiled when she made the sale.  :)  Notice the rice paddies (and tourists) in the background.

An action shot. 

She actually looks kinda angry.  Maybe she didn't want me to take her picture. 

Most of them were happy when I did though.  Case in point:

The women gather to prepare offerings for the celebration.

You can't see it here but this woman is holding a huge offering, in a skirt no less. 

How she didn't fall off that scooter I'll never know.

These last two are of a sacred area on the beach itself.  I admired that way of making an offering, and so different than a typical man made structure, so I thought it was worth the two shots.

I'm curious to hear your impressions so please leave a comment!

Focus on Bali: Culture

As promised, but long overdue, are some photos from our trip to Bali last month.  I hope you enjoy them!

This was a fire dance at sunset next to the beach.  It was quite a moving experience!

Hindu offerings were everywhere and the kids had fun counting how many they could find. 

 Water lillies and temples = tourist heaven.

I went a little crazy on the stone sculpture photography.  Sorry.  But...isn't it cool?

 A stunning temple set on this cliff.

More intricate stone carving at a great little temple we visited.  Temples are a huge part of their daily life so remote ones sans tourists can still be found. Loved that. 

Offerings to the max, the day after a Hindu holiday.

Of course the doors got my attention!

OK I'm done with the stone carving photos now.  :)

Next up:  Shots of the beautiful, happy Balinese people.  I think you'll really like 'em!