A cupcake or Two

Image by Martina Voigt:
Twin sister and I were busy in the kitchen on Sunday baking chocolate/orange cupcakes. She told me that the cupcake became popular after Carrie Bradshaw bit into one on Sex and the City.

Silly me, I didn't even know that. What I do know is that the term cupcake was first mentioned as far back as 1796 in American Cookery book by Amelia Simms, which we stumbled upon in the study.

We actually baked our cupcakes in individual pottery cups rather than muffin tins. This was the method of baking cupcakes before muffin tins became the norm. For a modern take on cupcakes I suggest using the muffin tin.

Spring is such a playful season. Throw a cupcake party with precious friends, add a little light music, few pots of golden tea, champagne, good weather and you're good to go. Online recipe HERE

Paris - Amongst the Colours

It is the color closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently stimulating character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes a thoroughly warm and comforting impression - Johann Wolfgang Goethe







Images: Yellow dress by Rene Storck, a painting from my ever expanding collection, sunny, yellow flowers from the garden, and new yellow shoes for spring.

The day is sparkling like precious jewels on a mannequin. Don't you just adore the ripeness of yellow? I think colours follow the changes in one's emotions, like the interaction between child and mother.

Off for a round of riding with twin sister and friends. It's too beautiful a day to remain indoors. See you all after the Easter holidays. Be ye kind one to another. xx

Un Hiver Chatoyant

Images: I'm wearing vintage Dior coat. Necklace by De Beers, footwear by Mui Mui, cashmere jumper by Eric Bompard along with my painterly silk skirt from the West Indies.

My sister and I met up this morning for some winter pampering. We went to the hairdresser - had our hair done, went onto lunch, then to one of my chums who is a great pianist for Chopin and tea.

The sun came out briefly to flirt with us en route to lunch, but now the sun is firmly asleep behind a misty sky, and sister and I are busy in the kitchen cooking:

Chicken and sweet pepper stew, oven roasted lamb with honey, winter vegetables with jerk sauce, tagine of pumpkin with figs, almonds, shallots and garlic. We are having guests round this evening for a winter feast;-)

The Cruelty of Winter

Winter, brittle and cold, bare limbs wake, under a blanket of snow. I am a child of summer - bones and emotions suffer in winter like leafless fingers. There are times when I feel as if the snow is blowing the ripe summer memories from my soul. Winter is so faultlessly cruel; it bites, it shocks; look what it does to the trees.


Images taken last weekend.
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Paris: Drinking Coffee Elsewhere

Images: Winter rain is romantic, soulful and melancholic like persian poetry.
I love meeting up with friends and lovers for a little light music, coffee, conversation and merry laughter. Is there a better way to honour rainy days?

Music is the highest form of art - I'm listening to Julia Fischer on the violin, Bach Chaconne whilst dreaming of crushed sardines, roasted garlic, rosemary married with thyme, home-made tomatoe sauce upon freshly made pasta. What are you listening to this winter? xx

Chanel And Champagne In The Swiss Alps

Images: Off to the Swiss Alps my lovelies. Can't wait to inhale the fresh, clean, mountain air in the mornings, paint the wintry landscape on canvas, read in the afternoons, go out for long walks in my winter boots, indulge in early evening naps, sip tea from my happy teapot with charming friends, and dance in my high heels till dawn at full moon parties. Ah, for the love of winter twilight and liguid moon! xx

Paris: Friends In Fashion

For men and women are not only themselves; they are also the region in which they are born, the city apartment or farm in which they learnt to walk, the games they played as children, the old wives tales they overheard, the food they ate, the schools they attended, the sports they followed, the poets they read, and the God they believed in. It is all these things that have made them what they are, and these are the things that you can't come to know by hearsay...
W. Somerset Maugham

My girlfriend and I met up last weekend after years of not seeing one another.
We played together as children, attended the same schools, shared a flat in Vienna, Switzerland and Oxford. It was so good to see her after all this time.















Images: Met up with girlfriend, enjoyed a late breakfast together, went on to whisky, wine and cheese tasting then art exhibition, afterwards we strolled along the quaint streets of paris en route to fashion show, took pictures of autumn leaves blowing in the sweeping wind, arrived at fashion show venue wearing my studded booties, a picture of my girlfriend's studded ballerinas. Happy weekend!xx

Paris, Just before dinner

Image: I'm just about to swan out to dinner, but I thought I'd pop in and wish you all a happy Friday. These prada heels are so lovely. Am wearing them with my burgundy cashmere/silk wrap dress, antique silver clutch and long vintage diamond earrings. xx

Accessorising Fashion

Images: Bespoke hat, second image was taken between fashion shows, antique bracelet from my mama's jewellery box, bag by Rene Storck, the German fashion designer.