Michael A. Muller / Threading in the Choirs

I so rarely like to be photographed, let alone a close-up. I really do enjoy being the one behind the lens. However, my good friend Michael A. Muller took a few shots that I happen to think capture me. 

More importantly, check out Michael's beautiful eye and excellent playlists on his site Threading in the Choirs. He is one of my absolute favs - a constant source of inspiration. His photographs really speak from the heart. It's as though he captures the feeling of the moment through his lens. Shoots straight from the heart, you can feel it. You'll recognize his work too - he is quite busy shooting for every publication under the sky. 

Cheers to you Michael A. Muller - keep the good vibes flowin!

(and thank you for the wodnerful pics)

xx

FLOWER MAN / Ken Hermann

Aren't these images lovely? My friend Michael passed these Ken Hermann photos along my way this morning and I found them refreshing and delightful! In other words, I had to share them with you! The rest of his body of work on his site is quite stellar too. Enjoy!

*thank you so much Michael

 

. . . just a few more shots! Seriously though, The Ecology Center is such a magical place!

Andy Goldsworthy

Are you familiar with Andy Goldsworthy's ephemeral work? It seems as though beings from another world created these. I have been quite in awe of his work now for a couple of years. He draws his inspiration from nature herself and uses his hands and his incredibly sound patience to create these natural masterpieces that over time will go back into the earth where they came from. No tricks here; honesty, time, vision and steadfast determination. He also will humbly speak of the many days that he doesn't accomplish his vision, or even come close, which I sympathize with (then again don't we all?). See for yourself here.

"For me looking, touching, material, place and form are all inseparable from the resulting work. It is difficult to say where one stops and another begins. Place is found by walking, direction determined by weather and season. I take the opportunity each day offers: if it is snowing, I work in snow, at leaf-fall it will be leaves; a blown over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches.

Movement, change, light growth and decay are the lifeblood of nature, the energies that I try to tap through my work. I need the shock of touch, the resistance of place, materials and weather, the earth as my source. I want to get under the surface. When I work with a leaf, rock, stick, it is not just that material itself, it is an opening into the processes of life within and around it. When I leave it, these processes continue.

The energy and space around a material are as important as the energy and the space within."

-A.G.

oh stella!

photo by stella berkofsky

So loving my friend Stella's beautifully redone website. She shoots everything on film and her worlds simply take me away. She has such an eye; it is both mature like an old soul who has traveled the world three times over and also yet so young and delicate. Not fragile, just quivering in beauty. Always so captivating and enchanting.

the wedding garden

inside their geodesic dome, where the magic begins

the ecology center!

flower seedling starters

creating lil planting nests for them in between straw

seedling starters happy beginnings

taking a break inside for tea with evan

I've written about The Ecology Center  before. I helped on the flower front with Green Feast here and here. Now my friends Evan Marks (founder, brilliant mind behind The Ecology Center) and Krissy Morrison (remember our natural dye workshop with her?) of Colour Plantae are getting married and having their party at The Ecology Center this October!

The three of us have started a wedding garden to have fresh flowers and herbs to cut and use! How beautiful is that? And fun! Evan got the seedlings started and I commenced planting them in their gardens this week. This is the beginning of a really special gesture, I can feel it. All the while just being there is such a moment of peace, of positivity and of sunshine. If you should want to pay them a visit and volunteer I can guarantee you that you will leave the grounds so lifted and full of life. It's abundant everywhere there. This is such a dream project. I'm all about this kind of awareness and respect, not just for Evan and Krissy but for what they represent, what The Ecology Center represents, and all the people there who put in so much time and heart to educate, to grow, to share, and to make the world a better place. Did I mention they just got their beehive all set up...now go and get some honey and make your life a little sweeter!

ZUNI Fetish Workshop!

Oh my gosh! Look at what brilliant Lauren is offering us this weekend over at Dream Collective! I'm going to be there and so should you! Can't wait GF!

B E A R   M E D I C I N E   //   M I N E R A L S   //   S U N S H I N E   //   L E M O N A D E

a make your own zuni fetish with me 

at Dream Collective   \\   1404 Micheltorena   \\  Silver Lake

June 22nd

3:00 pm  -  5:00 pm

materials fee: $65

please rsvp to laurenspencerking@gmail.com

limited space

Camille Henrot

I am quite enamored with Camille Henrot's elegant work, especially so with her ikebana installation. Flowers and plant materials elevated through the viewers experience. Stunning, stunning work.

Pale Subtropical Light

I have been watching photographer Matthew Porter's work for about a year now and was pleasantly surprised when I fell upon his Pale Subtropical Light work. I was immediately drawn to the title and  I really appreciate his photographs that make up this body of work. Also to note: check out his flying sports car series--they're the perfect blend of tough/magical. 

Shalimar de la Tefu Tefu

me + v.v. photo by Kumi

This is the sweetest! Thank you so much Choko and Sonoko for this really sweet post. I met these sisters while they were traveling through different cities in California to do research on a lifestyle book they were working hard on. Their book and blog emphasizes the importance of eating fresh food (preferably raw and vegan), drinking green smoothies and living with more nature and peace. They want to bring this awareness throughout Japan. Everything that I too believe in. So I had them over for tea and cake and we shared wonderful conversation about this kind of lifestyle living. They also told me about their old 70 Volkswagen bus that they were in the process of turning into a juice bus to drive around Tokyo and deliver juices! They clipped some herbs from my garden and made me the best green smoothie I have ever had! I hope to get to spend more time with Sonoko and Choko when they are here next or perhaps when I finally make it out to Japan.

Check out the rest here

Threading in The Choirs

photos Michael took of flora in his house

I made some new friends this past weekend and I am so happy that I did, I really am. Sometimes you meet people only once and you already know that you're going to be in each others lives and it's going to be even better for it! Check out Michael's pretty perfect site here and Leigh's pretty perfect site here.

BTW, what kind of flora is currently around your house?

BOOK STAND @ TOMBOY (Silver Lake)

Friends, won't you to stop by tonight? My divine friend Claire is having a little BOOK STAND pop-up at Tomboy in Silver Lake! She possesses a most exquisite collection of all things bound and let me tell you that we're lucky that is sharing it all with us! A feast for your soul and eyes you'll see. So see you there*

BOOK STAND @ TOMBOY TONIGHT

Fri December 14th / 6-8pm

1406 Micheltorena Street / Silver Lake

(I'm making teeny wreaths and a couple of flowers will be around too)

Flower Safari

My cunning friend Natalie knew just how to get me all fired up and swooning and filled with the kind of inspiration that keeps me from getting a solid night's rest: she sent this my way! HOW BRILLIANT is this art exhibit?? Look at those geometric plant holders. The floral chandeliers. The beautiful manner in which that incredibly exotic looking plant is pinned to the wall for all to observe and admire. I am simply in awe. Furthermore, this happened in Capetown, South Africa. 

OK, how about a little back story here: I don't think that I have ever shared with you how much I love South Africa. Elijah and I traveled throughout that wondrous country for nearly three months in a car and fell so deeply, madly in love with the country. I actually long to be there. Really and truly. That being said it makes my heart burst with joy when I see such creative talent coming out and getting recognition. Please take a moment and visit Mariah of Size Too Small and see some of the magic that is happening there. She is the one who styled Flower Safari and made the floral chandeliers. I am a fan of hers and really appreciate everything she shares, especially her experience as an American living in Capetown with her really beautiful little family.