nature girl
Posted in africa, homewares, nature February 25th, 2008 by piablog

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You are all probably well aware now that I am a nature girl. I am drawn to all things natural, and I gain all my styling inspiration from nature. And so while I am on my Sunday sloth fest, instead of getting out there amongst nature, I am going to bring the nature to us today. And all in the name of fabulous design. Let’s start with these beauties…

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Hans Silvester is the photographer of this incredible book called Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa. My fabo friend Beve from the wonderful blog Afropolitans sent me this link knowing full well that it would make me jump up and down with girlish excitement. She also sent me the link to this great article about the book which is described as a tribal fashion show inspired by the wild trees, exotic flowers and lush vegetation of the area bordering Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan… “these tribal people have created looks that put the most outlandish creations of Western catwalk couturiers to shame.” I have already ordered my copy from Amazon, as even though this article is so full of awesome images from the book, I cannot get enough of them. I need this book. now. Plus, who doesn’t love having their face-painted? Oh I am sooooooo inspired…

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Next up on our nature walk through the blogosphere, I am taking you all with me here:

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I found this treasure on what I believe to be my personal secret source of life’s most interesting and incredible things, a blog authored by a mysterious and extraordinarily talented chick. So who and what am I raving about? Cherry Coloured. And the author I must reveal, is more than just a pretty blogger, she answers by the name of Nyla, and she made this documentary about Jeff Buckley, which I only just realised (GASP!!!); she takes these beautiful photographs; and she finds and shares these treasures with us. Nyla’s blog is a must on your daily blogroll, that’s if you want to find such a place as this:

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Yep, we are talking the ULTIMATE in fine nature backyards here. I am completely enraptured – a totally sustainable rainforest community nestled into the tree tops of a 6,000 foot rainforest mountain on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The residence is called Finca Bellavista, and they even have high-speed Internet and WIFI. That means we could all live there and STILL blog away. Can’t you imagine us coo-ing each other from across the tree tops? You would all be invited to dinner on my treehouse terrace, where we can have a bloggers meeting right here…

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So who is coming with me?

Oh I almost can’t keep up with this post, my imagination is running wild now. I am thinking of how we could dress our treehouses, with all the incredible finds we have been sharing on our blogs, including these French creations which I want vite

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These are called Living Stones, floor cushions in the shape of oversized pebbles that are made from 100% wool and are environmentally friendly with no use of chemical dyes. They also have an outdoor range:

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Don’t the French just know what we want? But so do Kim and Jo, because they started me on the wander that lead me to these delightful pieces. As it goes, I was perusing their WINK post as I always do on my free weekends and as you know they introduce new bloggers, and this one called Shift caught my eye. So over I went and that is where I found the rocks for my new treehouse accomodation. This new blog has loads more inspiration, so go check it out. While you do that, I am just going to stick a flower in my hair, leaf through the pages of my new book, and sit on my treetop terrace on my new furniture. Hope to see you there…

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19 Comments

  1. marie says

    oh i’ve always wanted to live in a tress house..
    its the most magical thing no?
    i’d have an old iron bed with a mosquito net, and little lanterns on my terrace..i’d host a dinner or two as well!

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  2. marie says

    oh can i just ask if there’s any particularly beautiful magazines in the neatherlands (i’m doing a book swap you see, and i have no idea what you have) let me know if anything comes to mind! merci!

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  3. Mary-Laure says

    I miss Africa!!!!

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  4. Pia says

    marie, hosting dinner parties on our treehouse terraces, magical indeed!

    beve, your comment somehow landed on the previous post!

    mary-laure, i bet you do! i can only imagine how fabulous your childhood was there.

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  5. Vic says

    Those Hans Silvester photos are phenomenal, Pia. So striking and beautiful!

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  6. liz says

    beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

    and the Jeff Buckley connection!

    just a wonderful thing to see in the morning, thank you!

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  7. this is glamorous says

    These photographs are completely amazing–what a wonderful little journey you’ve taken us one!

    February 25th, 2008 | #

  8. Kristin says

    I love the idea of a treetop dinner party! I’m in! What a magical place… thank you for finding and for sharing.

    I love your blog, by the way!

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  9. Barb McMahon says

    Hi Pia! I have something for you over on my food blog today.

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  10. lynne says

    i’ve passed along an award to you – see my blog:)

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  11. nativekee says

    hi pia! this is a wonderful post…. i will definitely be looking more at hans silvester’s photos! just fabulous : )
    thanks, kee

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  12. king Negrito says

    wow, so happy to discover your blog 🙂

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  13. nyla says

    pia! thank you kindly for such enthusiastic compliments on my bloggie – and thanks also for linking to my photos and my film! so cool that you’re a jeff fan. somehow i’m not surprised. when somebody loves jeff, i know we share a special connection 🙂

    what a fantastical post. my head is in the treetops, dreaming of a leafy abode. you and marie can host our treetop dinner parties, and since I don’t like to cook, I’ll host sunday afternoon tea / book club, or maybe a crafty circle where we can dream up nature-inspired art projects and fashionable creations a la the Silvester book.

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  14. Pia says

    fabulous, so sunday’s are set on the treetops – we first wander over to nyla’s treehouse for afternoon tea and crafting (be it physical or spiritual.. ha!), then head over to marie’s place for a fabulous dinner on her terrace. Then to my treehouse for after-dinner drinks and a boogie. THIS PLACE ROCKS! I so want a treehouse now.

    February 26th, 2008 | #

  15. Chelsea says

    I love those living stones. A treehouse would be perfect:)

    February 27th, 2008 | #

  16. nataJane says

    The living stones are so inventive! Brilliant.

    February 28th, 2008 | #

  17. Purple says

    Fun posting, I love the tree houses and the stone ‘cushions’!!

    February 29th, 2008 | #

  18. pebble says

    awesome blog~!! If it was blogspot, i could follow you.. too bad

    March 3rd, 2009 | #

  19. fatah says

    i can feel the rhythm of nature
    peace

    February 7th, 2011 | #


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