sens & serendipity

Spiritual as I like to believe I am, there are things in this world that make me happy.

Amongst my favourite things are scented products, and I'm a fool for packaging. So when these four Panier des Sens en Provence products arrived in the post, and they turned out to feel and smell not just as good as I'd hoped, but better.. I cannot believe the quality of these creams and lotions. The lavender feels like a day in Andalusia, at a spa that had a lavender field, and we were offered armfuls, and drove off with it in the boot of the car, making my husband and I dizzy with hay fever.. I'm sniffing one hand as I type, the one with Energizing Verbena, so deeply lemony and fresh and also, pure essence of flowers.. and the Rose. What can I say. I love them all equally.

And with my current obsession with interiors that are light, modern, and minimal, these products sit like pretty bits of jewelry, or wild flowers in a vase. I love that contrast.

I feel like Julie Andrews, singing that song, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.. as I was shooting these, the sun burst through the clouds, and the cat, sleeping lazily next to me, looked up. He must have been dreaming he was in the South of France. I love that kind of happy accident. Serendipity.

From left to right: Energizing Verbena hand creme, Rejuvenating Rose and Relaxing Lavender body lotions, and Soothing Provence massage oil, all natural, all organic, all made in Provence, all available now from Ashleigh & Burwood, London.

for nella

For Nella, who was having surgery in Sweden yesterday, while I took this photo, in London, in Holland Park. Each tulip, so uniquely beautiful, showing me how profoundly fleeting life is. We only ever have this moment.

For Nella's daughter, Micha, and her fiance, David, and their children.

For my Mother, and my Father.

For my husband.

For love.

back to black: tulip

Inspired by a tulip I shot today at Holland Park, I remembered a shoot I did years ago - 2009 I think - with Estelle and Georgie. And took a gown that was blue grey, and brought it back to purplish black.






Speaking of, wasn't that a gorgeous version of Back to Black in Gatsby? I recognised Florence and the Machine - her voice is so iconic - but didn't realise it was Beyonce doing Back to Black. Or was it?

So much I want to say about this film. Another time. Have you seen it? What's your verdict? I love what Baz Luhrmann said about the critics, that the book didn't get good reviews, either. People, huh.