Hello and welcome to a new week! I spent the weekend resetting and spending time with my loved ones; I visited The Barber Institute, an art gallery on the University of Birmingham campus, on Saturday and fell in love. I was heartbroken when they closed Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for repairs, as it really left a gaping, gallery-shaped hole in my life, but little did I know there was a gallery only a short train ride away! What a hidden gem. Full of Impressionist paintings, and even a couple of Degas sculptures, I loved it, and it was just the right size for an afternoon ambling through a gallery.
We then made our way to the Jewellery Quarter for dinner at Pasta di Piazza, a gorgeous authentic Italian restaurant just off St. Paul’s Square. I had the mushroom and sausage risotto, which was delicious, and we chatted over dinner and wine for a few hours, before making our way to St. Paul’s House for post-dinner cocktails. If you’re a non-drinker like myself, I’d recommend the sunset mocktail, it was just the right amount of sweetness!
As a big fan of Impressionism there were lots of pieces in The Barber Institute that spoke to me, including this gorgeous landscape. I love how idyllic the scene looks, and I wish I could join the lady leading the cows across the river. I love how the swans, that almost seem to blend into the background at first, drift on the water in the distance, and you can almost hear the trees rustling and swaying in the breeze.
As I mentioned in the last weekly inspiration post I’ve got a new-found appreciation, or curiosity, in pottery, and have completely fallen for these hand-painted floral plates. The painter, Kelly Ventura, has such stunning floral still-lifes and fabrics, and these ceramics are yet another fabulous addition to her repertoire. I love that it looks like they’ve simply pressed the flowers into the pottery, it looks so natural and untouched, which is what makes them even more beautiful.
February is such a love-filled month, and this photoshoot screams romance and glamour. From the regal surroundings to the over-sized pink ruffled gown, it’s everything I love. The gilded golden edges on the decor are such decadent touches, I just love this Rococo style of architecture, and it brings out a whole new side to the gorgeous dress. How I wish I could be running through the grounds of a manor house with this dress flowing out behind me!
My longing for springtime has manifested itself in lusting after anything adorned with sweet little bunnies, and how cute are these? Something about them reminds me of nostalgic sketches of Peter Rabbit, which feels so comforting. I also love the duck-egg blue tones of the frame behind; everything about this screams spring, and that’s definitely necessary in mid-February where the winter gloom is just beginning to lift.
This gorgeous dress was featured on last year’s Great British Sewing Bee winner’s Instagram account, Serena. I love her account for patterns, sewing tips and how accessible her content is! This dress particularly caught my eye, as I love the bust design; this idea of framing the bust is something I included in my graduate collection, and I think it looks so classic and flattering. This might just have to be a pattern I try out over the coming months!
WHAT I’M READING
This week I read The Cloisters by Katy Hays, a mystery novel about a young woman working in an art gallery and museum in New York where they are researching divination and tarot cards. I didn’t know much about this topic before reading this novel, but I found it so interesting! I’ve also started Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman, which is my book club’s book this month. I don’t want to say too much in case any of my book club girls read this post, but I’ve got mixed feelings so far.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Of course I have to mention the new series of You, which I’m now waiting not-so-patiently for the next installment of. Although the series hasn’t grabbed me in quite the same way that the earlier series did I’m definitely hooked, and I want to see where the series ends up. I’ve only read the first book in the series by Caroline Kepnes, so I’m completely going in blind to the series (and I think the entire show’s?) finale. Roll on March 9th!
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
As always, the music I’ve been listening to is a little bit of a mixed bag. I’ve had Conan Gray on repeat, as well as ‘Ceilings’ by Lizzy McAlpine, ‘Love & War in Your Twenties’ by Jordy Searcy, ‘Coney Island’ by Taylor Swift and ‘Grapejuice’ by Harry Styles. Also, as a very random honorary mention, at my friends’ Galentine’s Day dinner party last weekend we discovered an old gem, ‘Start Without You’ by Alexandra Burke which definitely got us in the party spirit!
Love Chloe x
All photos belong to the original owners.
