esther stewart's "makin' plans" enamel paintings are the perfect prescription for my pretty color and simple shapes addiction.

also, they're an effective cure for a chaotic day. meditate on two of 'em and call me in the morning.

{see more of esther stewart's art here.} {via the design files.}

when you can butterfly them?

have a fluttery weekend, darlings!

{image via dear creatures.}

i confess, i have not quite mastered bar soap. it always dissolves in a little puddle of water in my shower or crumbles into bits in my bathtub.

however, i love the stuff. especially when it comes wrapped up in a dashing package. two cats riding tandem on a bike? sign me up! big foot walking a raccoon? give me a dozen! sure, the soap will soon be sacrificed in my shower and consumed by a loofah, but until then, it can live a happy life on my display shelf. 

meow mewo tweet bar soap available here and at rare device.

{top to bottom: beer shampoo bar soap; rosemary lime bar soap; grapefruit mint bar soap; citronella fir bar soap.}

whether your palette craves tasty logs or smoked ham, i hope you have a tasty day!

{happy beaver print and glazed ham painting by the one and only matte stephens.}

this 1962 william cody palm springs pad was recently restored and re-loved by an owner who yearned to bring it back to its original and swell '60s style.

with the talents of architect thomas morbitzer and designer darren brown, the mid-century home was made pretty as a picture down to the pedro friedeberg hand chair, sputnik pendant lamps, and brass cube lav sets.

all that's missing is a cocktail cart, me, and you.

{via dpages.}

hand me a bat and i will unabashedly take a swift swing at a piñata for a bucket of candy.

however, if the piñata looks like a sparkling diamond, i may opt for hanging it from my office ceiling (until my cravings for candy gets too maddening, of course).

{see more piñata designs at prospect goods' etsy shoppe.} {via srslyliz.}

pick your paradise, darlings!

{more beth hoeckel goodness at bethhoeckel.com.}

growing up in los angeles, summers always looked like a '70s album cover -- only with a thick layer of smog.

nonetheless, when it starts heating up in land-locked hollywood, it's impossible to not want to lace up your roller skates and do a little california dreaming down the venice strip or cruise along PCH in a convertible blasting your high school make out song.

of course, if you don't have time for any of this, there is always pinterest. that's where i found these images.

now, pour me a cocktail and surf some pinterest boards.

{from top to bottom: palm tree and a pink sky; ice machine in the sun; twin palms; beach bonfire.}

kittens, i've been waiting FOR-EV-ER for the premiere of behind the candelabra.

my former boss, howard cummings, is the uber-talented production designer behind this glittery spectacle and i guarantee that your mind will be blown to rhinestone bits. a handful of my friends also worked on this film (from set designers to coordinators) and i couldn't be more happy for them. 

to top it off, behind the candelabra is an incredible screenplay about a complex man and his complicated and closeted relationship.

sex, drugs, music, sparkles, plastic surgery, feathers, and love - who can ask for anything more?

liberace...that's who!

for a special behind-the-scenes peek with howard, set decorator barbara munch, and costume designer ellen mirojnick click here. 

polish your ivories and diamonds this sunday, darlings! and i'll meet you poolside.

{behind the candelabra directed by steven soderbergh. screenplay by richard lagravenese based on a book by scott thorson. starring michael douglas as liberace and matt damon as scott thorson. production design by howard cummings.} {images via hbo.}

from LACMA to MUSAC, portugal-based artist, andré chiote, illustrated a mighty cool collection of museum architecture for us to enjoy, covet, and put onto our "i-swear-i-will-visit-this-place-soon" list.

see andré's entire collection here.

{via ISO50.}