Back In The UK!

Hello! I arrived back into London Heathrow at 6 am this morning after a fantastic four days in New York City. Thank you for being so welcoming to the talented bloggers, designers and photographers who have been looking after Bright.Bazaar over the past few days. I'll be back with a colour cocktail to start the weekend on Friday. Until then, Bonnie will be sharing some colourful photography. And whilst we're on the note of photography: I snapped this image on my iPhone whilst strolling the streets of NY on Sunday - don't you think the azure blue sky and warm yellow tones of the traffic lights make for a breathtaking colour combo? See you Friday, gang. x

Bright.Bazaar

{Guest Post: Compai's Styling Tips}

Today's guest post comes from a new friend of mine, Justina. As soon as we met I knew her visual style and aesthetic was right in line with my own. It's well worth a heading over to her blog, Compai, to check out her colourful posts and to read of her time living and working in Italy. Thanks for holding the fort today, Justina!

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Hello dear readers of Bright.Bazaar. It's such a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Justina of Compai and when Will asked me to guest post for him, I couldn't resist - I'm a loyal reader of the blog.

I work as a designer, author and creative consultant but my background includes owning a boutique in Italy for a number of years selling all things bright (and some things bizarre).  I often apply the experience of boutique owner in interior styling.

Today's post is all about Piccolo e Prezioso (that's Italian for Small and Precious.)  In both retail and home environments, displaying small and precious items in fun and unexpected ways can really change the way you see your stuff.  I used these tricks at the shop, and now I love using the same techniques at home. Here are some of my favorite ways to display my trinkets:

Photography & Styling by Justina Blakeney of Compai

Need a hand?
There's nothing like a pair of vintage mannequin hands to really make you want to actually wear a couple of those chunky rings that you otherwise may have completely forgotten about.
I got this pair of at the Rose Bowl market here in Los Angeles, but you can get a similar pair here if you like it and you wanna put a ring on it.

Treat Cup
I collect tea cups.  The thing is, I hardly ever drink tea. I like to use them around to house for coins or matches - and in this case, my pins and broaches.

Prized Pillow
This colorful pillow was a souvenir purchased in Turkey. I absolutely adore the colors and zig-zag pattern. It's not the softest thing to lie on but by my earrings and necklaces don't seem to mind! I get to display the pillow and clearly see my earrings and necklaces at the same time. For a similar pillow, check out this shop.

Got Issues?
To display my bracelets, I simply roll up an old issue of one of my favorite magazines and throw the bracelets on top. Voilà!

Thank you so much Will, for hosting me here, I hope your trip is going famously! And thank you readers, for making me feel so at home. I hope to see you all soon right here at Bright.Bazaar or back over at the Compai blog. 
~Justina

{Guest Post: Ochre}

I'm delighted to have the hugely talented Michelle standing in for me today. Be sure to head over to her blog and check out her great sense of style. Thanks for guest posting, Michelle! P.S. Your colour choice is divine.

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I’m Michelle and Holley & Gill is my blog. The lovely and talented Will has asked me to fill in for him today while he’s away. His assigned topic: anything COLOUR of course.

Colour theories are numerous and complex. During my Fine Arts degree, we had classes dedicated to a multitude of them. The colour wheel, the absence or abundance of light, the visual impacts of specific color combinations, so many different cases to study and to understand. One of the exercises we did during my school days has been stuck in my mind since then. It was a simple question but most of us, surprisingly, had a really difficult time with our answer.

If you were to single out only one colour which would encompass you, your traits and your personality, what colour would it be?

I can’t remember what my answer was then, but since I’m able to sit and really think about it now, my answer would be ochre. Ochre, a golden yellow with a tiny hint of brown to keep its brightness at bay. I adore it and always find myself gravitating towards it. It sends off a message of lightness, mirrors a deep and saturated sunshine, yet with its modesty and golden hue, a touch of class as well. Don’t you think? What would your answer be?

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