*under construction*


13 April 2009

Toast of Beauty

A small package, neatly wrapped in cellophane, and sent via Royal Mail from London arrived recently here in Museville -
I hadn't ordered anything, so I was quite curious.
It looked like a book - with its cover of beautifully photographed persimmons -- but upon further inspection, it was actually a catalog. A beautiful catalog - and the cover simply read:
Toast
house & home
...the simple things.

With its bound, thick pages, it felt more like a book than a catalog. Upon opening it, the differences between this beauty and my usual catalogs was clearly and immediately evident.


The catalog is stunning.


The layout is beautiful and so Artistic.



The photography is phenomenal.


I found myself perusing it as an Art book, rather than a catalog for home goods.


The next day, a second package, identical in wrapping arrived, but different in cover - another treat from the UK - This cover was of an azure sky dotted with ethereal clouds bathed in the soft gold of the sun -- which was setting over a calm indigo sea. It was simply labeled
Toast
...cobalt sea, red earth, west wind


I couldn't wait to open the pages, and my heart skipped a beat when I did - an ancient stone building with beautifully worn shutters and a terracotta roof with a viney green bower serving as a shady canopy over the flat roof of the garage were there waiting... with poetry written in a font of artistic handwriting at the bottom of the page --


Winter is past
and rain over and gone
The flowers appear on the earth
The time of the singing birds is come
--Erika in Chania.



Shot is Greece, the photographers, Jonathan West, Jenny Zarins and mojo photography ingeniously included the locals in some of the photographs - making the pictures look like family portraits with the past and present magically caught within the same moment in time.


The scenery is just breathtaking.

And once again, I forgot that this was a catalog for shopping because I was caught in the spell of the Artistry and beauty that I found within ... page after gorgeous page.



I'm sure many already know about this little gem, but if you don't - do yourself the favor and go to their website and request the catalogs.


You will be oh, so glad that you did.


25 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh wow, on my way now to request a catalog. What a find.
Happy Twirls

cottage farm villa said...

Oh, what beautiful reading!! Amazing photos!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

DONE! Thanks dear friend...I love getting goodies in the mail. Good goodies, not IRS kinda goodies. Sigh.

Marie said...

You're right...absolutely stunning catalog! Merci for sharing the website with us.
-marie

Kari said...

oh, eye candy!!! I love it. This is how the anthropologie catalogs USED to look. I miss them. Will be over there to order this up right away!

Fabulously French said...

Thanks for the tipoff, I have just ordered mine! The photos are gorgeous!

Donna Baker said...

Was that dust pan and broom being offered for sale? I can't imagine such a beautiful setting.

Cyndee Greene said...

Oh Isa, I ran right over & ordered a catalog....Scrumptious!!

Blue Muse said...

Hi Donna,
Yep, yep, it's for sale. It's written up next to that lovely photo as:
Long handle dustpan and brush.
metal tray and horsehair brush, both on long wooden handles. sweep with dignity -- no more getting down on your knees to brush up.
oiled birch/horsehair
xo isa

Helen said...

Thank you so much for the link ~ looks incredible!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Jeepers! This is just gorgeous. I am off to the website now!! I hope you had a lovely Easter!!

anita said...

thank you for sharing! i just ordered the catalog!

The Bliss Journey said...

Stunning photos. I just ordered my catalog. Thanks for passing along the info.
Kathleen

Jeanne Oliver said...

Stunning photographs!

Miss Kris said...

Hi Isa!

What a BEAUTIFUL and scrumptous...Catalog! So amazing and thank you for sharing this Beauty!

Miss Kris

Linda in AZ * said...

* Wow~ The quiet elegance of your photos, and feelings, transfers so well to your written words. Again, WOW... And thank you~ I feel soooo calm and rested... like I was really "THERE"! Best, Linda in AZ *

Ness Lockyer said...

Did you actually buy anything from this lovely?
Thanks for the look it was beautiful,
Ness xx

Millie said...

How fantastic Isa! I've been concerned that with the economy contracting we may see the end of printed catalogues - so your post has made me VERY happy!
Millie ^_^

Taytu and Co said...

I just discovered your blog thanks to desiretoinspire and I love it. Love the music too! And this post makes me want to buy from them!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I wonder if you can get it in the US? I shall go take a look. Thanks!
Brenda

niartist said...

Oooooo! So this is that magazine you were talking about! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! You always find the best stuff! WHERE ARE YOU TWIN!?!?!?!!? I've called 100 times!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to receive a catalog! Amazing.

Fifi Flowers said...

GREAT photos! I want to sit in the first one!

Mary-Laure said...

These pics are spectacular indeed, so full of sunshine...

a quiet life said...

omg, the best blog ever... i just read back for all the months i have missed, like a fine art book, i am so heavily sataited now...

you have compiled so much beauty and inspriation here i am in sensory overload... and craving a new house and garden! and travel and wishing i was thin, pretty and young...

oh what a fun morn with isa and her crazy good eye! thanks for treating the world to your visions~