{holiday inspiration: the spirit of giving}

. . . ever since their crystal & gold tray was featured here last autumn, many have been smitten with the stunningly lovely things found at rablabs, and since it's the season for giving, few things are lovelier than an utterly beautiful gift that also supports a great cause -- and this year -- rablabs has teamed up with tri-state bird rescue, an organization working to manage the rehabilitation of oiled wildlife in the gulf coast, to offer a new line of coasters inspired by the enchanted dreams of the ocean . . .




. . . made from natural rocks found in the heart of brazil, the exquisitely elegant ocean coasters are formed from the unique tides and eddies of mineral-rich water flowing through ancient lava streams, their deep blue-green hues reflecting the intensely saturated color and mystery of the ocean . . .

founded in response to mass wildlife destruction resulting from oil spills, tri state bird rescue & research has been rehabilitating birds since 1976; with this new collaboration with rablabs, 20% of the proceeds from these brazilian agate coasters in the special edition oceano range will be donated to this wonderful cause

. . . and so, if still searching for that last perfect gift . . . here

{p.s.} happy, happy monday! hope your week is off to a beautiful start,

~ roséline xo

{images: 1 - vt interiors; 2 - anne vvalitsyna by mark segal for louis vuitton cruise 2011}

{colour inspiration: overcast skies}

. . . early monday evening and the skies have already fallen dark, and earlier, brilliant leaves of orange and crimson, floating in the autumn breezes and fluttering along sidewalks, everything cast in utterly romantic shades of overcast skies . . .

{p.s.} a few updates:
* features & favourites
* fashion & photography

{images: 1 - linen & lavender; 2 - scan, photography by laura sewry for victoria magazine march/april 2009; 3, 4, 5, 8 - matteo; 6 - linen & lavender; 7 - .la doleur exquise.}

{give-away: crystal & 24 karat gold tray}

. . . has been a while since the last glamorous give-away, but most definitely well worth the wait . . .




. . . designer anna rabinowicz launched her first home collection for new york-based rab | labs in 2002, creating objects inspired by nature, fusing ancient, precious materials in a luxurious palette with modern design, layering semi-precious gems, including crystal and agate, with the finishing touches of pure gold and sterling silver . . .



. . . resulting in beautiful pieces such these pure brazilian agate bookends, left, and a personal favourite, the rose quartz tray with 24 karat gold trim, right

. . . rab | labs' pieces are so lovely, they have been featured in the new york times, elle décor, architectural digest, harper’s bazaar, o magazine, and new york magazine and carried by the museum of modern art stores, moss, and barneys new york . . .

. . . and best of all, today, one charmed reader will win a crystal and 24 karat gold or sterling silver tray {retail $325.00 - $375.00}, perfect for brie & table water crackers on a romantically overcast autumn afternoon, or champagne & macarons in a pair of sequined heels after dinner, or even as an ultra-stylish place to display an exquisite perfume collection on the dressing table . . .

to enter, {click here} to visit rab | labs or {here} to browse the beautiful selection of crystal trays, then leave a comment below

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* one winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after thursday, september 30, 2010; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification; this give-away is open to u.s. & canadian readers only - apologies!; images: haute design - one & four; 2 - the cherry blossom girl; 3 - barbara palvin by max von gumppenberg & patrick bienert for vogue germany, october 2010 via oh}

{at the shops: billy bride jewelry, australia}

. . . having quite a love affair with all things australian lately, with katie and natasha, and now these incredibly beautiful rings by billy bride, handcrafted from naturally occurring materials such as citrine, lapis lazuli, quartz, and the stunning, champagne aura, a metaphysical stone created when quartz is bonded with vaporized gold . . .

{p.s.}
* more minerals: carly waito, oil on masonite
* previous at the shops: satomi kawakita, new york

{images: billy bride via the shiny squirrel}

{artist: carly waito, oil on masonite}

. . . if you found coe & waito's delicately lovely pine cones utterly inspiring, toronto-based designer & ceramicist carly waito's stunning oil on masonite paintings of minerals will have you searching for your long-lost easel and forgotten box of paints and get caught up in creating beautiful things . . .

{images: carly waito via all the mountains}