Sunday Reading: A former convent converted into a house and workshop

Marie Claire Maison today is featuring this gorgeous rustic home, a former convent converted into a house and workshop by the German designer Katrin Arens in the Lombardy countryside and not far from Milan, Italy. Although the house was dilapidated, its history and the natural environment made it an ideal place for creating and inspiration. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci lived on this farm during the course of the fifteenth century, which was then converted into a convent. I know I've seen that kitchen floating about the internet in the past year or so, but hadn't seen other images of the house. After studying at the Fine Arts in Düsseldorf and at the Academy of Bergamo, Katrin Arens specializes in the production of wooden furniture made primarily from raw materials (just look at everything in this home - amazing pieces - even the cabinetry). This is definitely worth pulling the translator out for. Visit here for the article. Happy Sunday reading! Photos by Philipe Garcia.

Sunday Reading

French Toast Bites (pg. 95) Pure Green (photo: Erin Monett)

There's a few new issues out right now of online magazines if you missed them.  Thought they'd be good sunday fare.

Pure Green (Issue 6) - check out the French Toast Bites (pg. 95)
La Petite (Issue 5) via Handmade Charlotte).

Sunday Reading: Poppytalk Contributors Blogs

Bodie and Fou

For some sunday reading today, I thought it might be fun to catch up with all of our amazing contributors here at Poppytalk.  This summer has sped by (hasn't it?) and it's fun to see what everyone's been up to!

Karine at Bodie and Fou had the stairs painted white at her London home while off in France on vacation. Can't wait to see the pics!
Arounna of Bookhou is on a bit of a hiatus here but is sewing up a storm at Bookhou at Home. 
Will of Bright Bazaar is embracing blue hues - have you seen his mash ups?  Always colourful and gorgeous!
Camilla Engman has a new public commission installed, wouldn't you like to see it person?
Jeannette of Everybody Likes Sandwiches is making spicy lemon parmesan veggies.  Take a look here!
Elisabeth of Fine Little Day is a bit rained out this weekend for a big craft fair, but the sun will come tomorrow they say.
Lisa Congdon always has beautiful things in her shop, I'm especially liking her vintage brownie camera panel.
Lisa Solomon just had a show opening on Friday (which I missed posting about, gasp)!  She made 2 new glass ball toxin atomic ball sculptures for it.
Hello Sandwich just got her first Digital SLR (I'm still waiting for mine)...check out her new pictures she's taking with it!
Michelle of Holley & Gill has refreshed the look of her blog recently and taken some beautiful pictures of old Montreal - also be sure to check out her perspective at Blogfest.
Andrea of Hula Seventy is now back from the road trip to end all road trips.  Can't wait to hear more!
Pip from Meet Me At Mikes has two new books out!  Check them out here!
Janis of Pinecone Camp has been taking beautiful pictures of beautiful homes for various magazines all summer long - not to mention her camping and road trips...
Rena Tom who's currently in Singapore has some great business-related guest posts lined up all month while she's away.  Lots to read if you're needing help with the business end of things.
Shauna of Forage Ties (Somethings Hiding in Here) is very busy with a secret of some sort.  I think it might have to do with a particular online pop up shop.  Stay tuned here.
And if you didn't know already Will Bryant (and his lovely wife Sally) have moved from Austin to Portland, Oregon this summer! 
And us?  Why we're working hard to get our kitchen in before the cold sets in for the winter and I have a new lookbook for you all tomorrow if all goes well)!
So much goin' on! Hope you're having a great sunday!

Sunday Reading: Ikea Family Magazine (Summer Issue)

Today I ran into a post of mine from earlier this spring on the the Ikea Family Magazine (spring version), which got me searching out for a more current one.  After a bit of hunting (they don't make this magazine easy to find online) I found their summer issue.  And like the spring version, it's filled with inspiration and decor ideas galore to keep one occupied during a good cup of coffee (or two).  I kind of like this never-ending memory tree idea (above) where one could frame anything from your grandparent's wedding photo to your baby's first pair of shoes, ever-growing and ever-changing.  Heaps of lovely things to look at.  Click here to see.  Happy Sunday!

More reading options? My post today at Babble:  Cottage-Inspired Style
Or my posts from this week you might have missed:
How to Make Your Own Leather Passport Holder
New IKEA 2012 Catalogue - A Quick Glance
Mini DIY Round-Up
Fun IKEA Hack!
A Thank You: Free Printable Summer Gift Wrapping ...
Weekend Project: Ikea Hack Coffee Table
  

Sunday Reading: The Latest Lonny Magazine

The latest issue of Lonny Magazine is out today just in time for some relaxing sunday reading.  Loving this little vignette (photo by Patrick Cline, art direction by Michelle Adams).  Click here to see.

Sunday Reading

14 or so pages from April's Marie Claire Maison
I just heard about this "craft-themed" Japan Quake Auction Appeal
In case you missed Lonny Magazine (like me).
Heartwarming translations of Japanese tweets. http://t.co/gmZj7Wp via @skinnylaminx via Omiyage
Shin Shin posts about HOPE
Will always has some bright links: http://bit.ly/fDNx2s
I keep thinking about these Crushed Fig Friands
The geek in me wishes I could attend this seminar at SXSW today - and understand it.
This installation by Megan Geckler at Space 15 Twenty and Urban Outfitters is amazing.
UO has 26 free songs at their Live in Austin 2011 page.
Happy Sunday everyone!

Sunday Reading: Print Magazine {Previews}

I've been treating myself to digital versions of print magazines as of late. But you can also just preview them. Some show the entire magazine. They are mini pages or a limited amount of full pages but there are also a few free magazines at Zinio if you sign up for an account. Just click on free when you're at their site. Here's a few favourites.

• Living Etc. (Preview version - click on the magazine to view the entire magazine - with 3 zooms).
• 29 Pages from Marie Claire Maison

• Azure Magazine - (Preview - 14 full pages)

Sunday Reading

Scout and Catalogue

Hello internets, hope you're having a nice weekend! Today I thought it would be fun to list a few blogs that I enjoy visiting when I can for this week's Sunday Reading column. I'm sure you'll like them too! xo jan (Above photo: Scarf from Scout and Catalogue).

And not to forget, the Black Friday Deals we've listed here this week are still continuing through the weekend and into Cyber Monday!

Seesaw
Oh So Beautiful Paper
Miss Moss
My Scandinavian Retreat
Sandra Juto
Rosa Pomar
The Brick House
Door Sixteen

Sunday Reading No. 1: December's Marie Claire Maison

I always like the monthly little sneak peeks from Marie Claire Maison, and December's issue is another charmer. I know the writing is too small to read, but just for a little inspiration (French style). Click here to view 33 pages.

Sunday Reading

Pull out your translator and take a tour through this colourful and playful London residence via marieclairemaison.com. Renovated by designer Ab Rogers, who had never designed a private residence before, the London home became a place full of colour and imagination. Photo credits: John Short.

Sunday Reading 2: Issue 2 - FRYD Magazine

Open publication - Free publishing - More design

The second issue of Jeanette Lund's e-magazine, FRYD was launched this past friday (just getting to my emails now). And it doesn't disappoint! Another beautiful publication filled with Scandinivian bliss. Click on magazine to launch fullscreen.

Sunday Reading

The November issue of Marie Claire Maison is online for sneak peek viewing. Click here to see 10 inspirational pages.

Sunday Reading: Why India?

After tweeting last week about cutting my hair, I found myself following a certain hair stylist here in Vancouver and last night I followed her tweet to her blog. Thinking I would be reading something about fashion, I couldn't correlate the title of her blog with either fashion or hair and decided to investigate why she named it Why India. I decided to pick her first post which I would hope would explain things, but what happened was like when you start a good book, I couldn't put it down. The more I read the more intrigued I was. I won't tell you more here, I'll let you follow my path through her blog. But I will give you this index page to connect all the posts together as each one should be read in that order and sometimes they don't link to each other. So if you have time today it's an awesome and truly inspiring read (that still is continuing). Visit Why India here to start. Images above all by Shai Dhali.

Sunday Reading

The second issue of Lonny Magazine is out for your online reading pleasure. Lots of nice photo's to peruse, if you haven't seen it yet and miss your Domino or Blueprint, Lonny Magazine is a little hint of both. Click here to read.