V.v.

the one and only

my loves

I couldn't help but forage a wild bouquet--it smelled so good!

Yesterday was V.v.'s eight birthday. It's fitting that she's a Christmas pupsicle because she is such a gift in and of herself. 

A long hike through Griffith Park, a new elegant collar, a bully stick and an extra special dinner wove the day into a little celebration for this six pounds of love that has been with me for eight whole years. Here's to you V.v. You have made all the difference. 

BOOK STAND

I am so, SO happy to post about my really wonderful and inspiring friend Claire Cottrell's new shop: BOOK STAND. It's what I wish my library (maybe my future library next to my foyer, ah-hem) would consist of. She has steadily been collecting everything from art books, journals, photo books, plant books, earth books, film books, magazines, and just the most wonderful collections of stitched pages that you can imagine. She had shared with me her vision waaay back when we very first met, and I was so super excited about her idea then. To think that now it is up and breathing and kicking and looking so dreamy makes my heart flutter for her! I am so proud of her! 

:.  Claire you did it!! I am so super happy for you and now for all of us too!  .:

xx

teeny dried flower/leaf mobiles

and some actual work that has been done (sometimes I spend a tad bit too much time foraging and not necessarily making...oh yes there is a difference).

Midsummer Nights Crafts

Midsummer Nights Crafts!

OK so this is what I've been working on extensively these past few weeks! I am so excited to share with you a series of craft workshops that I've curated starting next Thursday at the amazing space of Shelter Half! Yay! What a tremendous opportunity! I feel like it is such a wonderful way to spend a summer's evening: listening to records, sipping on drinks, eating snacks inspired by summer's bounty, and meeting new friends while working on a craft together.

We have some really amazing artists that are going to lead some of the workshops including indigo queen Britt Browne and Krissy Morrison of Colour Plantae (and Thvm)! Yes we are going to get our hands dirty and do some dye-ing! Also a build-your-own Noguchi inspired lamp that you will want to hang in your home and a kokedama workshop so that you can create your own hanging string gardens! Lots of really, really good things to make and build! So are you in? I can't wait!

***A huge thank you to Lauren of Spencer Studio for creating such amazing artwork for our site and her constant stream of support and enthusiasm. I couldn't have done this without her! And another huge thank you to Virginie for her endless source of joy and encouragement of the arts! She is a well of inspiration and magic. This project would not exist without her***

Kokedama: String Garden

I made some really sweet kokedama's this weekend to sell at Shelter Half. If you have a small apartment or want an easy-to-take-care of lil' plant friend or simply love moss, you need one! Hang one from your window (preferably not full sun all day) and watch your space get a little dose of magic. Go and get yours (or email me about an upcoming workshop to make your own)!

Heartfelt birthday wishes

Lucky, lucky me. I am so grateful. I got to wake up later than usual with Elijah and our farm today, only to receive so many lovely and kind birthday wishes and celebrations through mail, email, phone texts and my very own birthday banner strung across my door! I am so deeply honored and in love with my tribe. A very heartfelt thank you for making my birthday this year incredibly special*

Frederick Bouchardy: Ames Sœurs

Have you ever smelled any of the scents that Frederick Bouchardy created for Opening Ceremony, Rodarte, or Alexis Bittar? The third Joya scent Ames Sœurs created by this scent whisperer is to be released soon and I want one of these limited beautifully 22kt gold encrusted porcelain candles! Since my blog is not a scratch n' sniff, his description will have to do for now (my heart is swooning):

The top notes are  tamarind, Cyprus and grapefruit; the middle is rose bulgur, ginger and orange blossom, and the dry-down is cedar wood, incense, amber and sweet musk, so the overall effect is orange blossoms, wrapped in smoke, incense and musk.

 

Read more here!

(bottom image borrowed from W magazine)

México!

and MÉXICO! Have more of a peek here!

(you need to go)!

travels...

I cannot even begin to describe the gratitude that comes from shooting film and then processing it and getting photos back that really make my heart sing. I wanted to share a little bit with you. It seems like Elijah, V.v. and I have been doing a lot of moving around and a lot of eating along the way. It's always a little bit of a gamble when I bring along my old 35mm and polaroids and in the middle of lugging them around the idea that it might be all in vain is always in the back of my mind...and then this happens...I get some really beautiful shots. Not all of them, mind you, but just enough. I hope that you like these too.

p.s. sorry it's been so long!

Birthday Nutshell

I have to share with you that I had an incredibly heartfelt and lovely birthday this year. Mostly because I got to spend it with the people I love the very most. The gifts that really melt my heart and have me file them in my "coveted treasures file" in my heart are the gifts of time that everyone seems to carve out of their busy schedules to either make me a card, write me a letter, bake me a cake (with delicate and edible flower petals nonetheless!), fly me over to a city, take me to a show, drink birthday morning champagne with me, drink evening birthday champagne with me, laugh with me, pick out flowers for me, pick a magical plant, or closes her eyes and sends me her spirit along with some amazing cookies and feathers to wear around my neck all the way over from the City of Lights across an ocean! I am so blessed. So, so incredibly grateful for all of this. For life and the loves that make mine such a place of beauty and magic*

P.s. Have you ever been to Chicago? It's an incredibly beautiful city full of life!

Some beautiful photos sent my way from my amazing and beautiful friend Cheri of Scout Holiday. She always knows what to send me whenever I need a little inspirational lift...merci beaucoup, chère Cheri*

(images from Lolita)

Papier Mache Issue 6!

The sweet, endearing, beautiful, creative world of Papier Mache...check it out! Even if you don't have children, you will find inspiration from the imaginative worlds peeped through with their little eyes. I promise.