by its own design

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2011-03-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Taking a little break here for a while. Got some big things cooking that require 100% of my attention. See you guys sometime soon.

Photo: taken by me while traveling in Brazil.

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2011-03-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

Women make the world go round. Let's never forget it. Happy International Women's Day!

Photo: Anna Yausheva's flickr

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2011-03-08T09:09:00.000-08:00

Some internet wanderings this weekend left me visiting places that I don't tend to frequent. But I happily fell entranced with these two pictures. Beautiful, no? Judy's (from the blog Atlantis Home) shot of the arcade along the Rue de Rivoli in Paris, and Hanneli Mustaparta in Tuscany have got me jonesing for a summer vacation in Europe, big-time.

Left Photo: Judy Aldridge, Right Photo: Hanneli Mustaparta

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2011-03-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

I recently bought PJ Harvey's new album, Let England Shake. It's pretty fabulous! I can't stop listening to it, especially the song, The Glorious Land. Also here is an interesting interview with Harvey on Fresh Air.

photo source: Seamus Murphy, from NPR

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2011-02-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

I always adore the styling in the Toast House and Home catalogues. This is basically what I want my next vacation/summer months to look like. All images from Toast SS11 catalogue.

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2011-02-24T10:05:00.000-08:00

Do you guys ever get the wanderlust? You know, that insatiable need to hop on a plane and fly to someplace new, exotic, and far away? I have this feeling pretty much all the time, but am especially feeling it this morning. If you could get on a plane right now, where would you go? I'd go to England, where the snowdrops are probably signaling the very beginning of spring, and have a nice visit with my sister.

photo by zsita on flickr

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2011-02-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

On that (new) note.

A bright and colorful window shopping collection. (Svpply makes window shopping really fun.) Really, it's all about those tights.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

(Oh and I have no problem listing these things through links as above. Because we are just looking, not actually shopping...)

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2011-02-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

If you read this space somewhat regularly, you may have noticed that I haven't posted about clothes lately. A while back I was thinking about my own relationship to materialism and became slightly disturbed by just how much my blog was devoted to the notion of wanting things. Specifically, wanting things that I don't really need and that I have no business trying to purchase at this moment in my life.

Since September I have been on a self-imposed spending freeze. It started slowly at first, more out of need to drastically curb my spending, but after a while I just decided to keep up with it. And with the exception of buying Christmas presents (including a few items of on sale clothing for myself) I have stuck to it, more or less. And it's been surprisingly easy. Yes I still dream about the perfect pair of Rachel Comey boots, but I'm getting by without for now, and that's OK. Pretty soon I will have to temporarily freeze my spending freeze out of necessity (more on that later), and I will feel totally OK with that as well.

In the meantime I have continued to troll my favorite blogs, perusing the internet and magazines and pausing when I see something beautiful that I like. It's like window shopping--you get to have the nice part of looking and admiring without having to really try anything on. And it's fun. So I've decided that bringing a few "pretty things" back to this space is alright. Because it's nice to appreciate, even from afar.

photo by Lieke Romeijn, one of my favorite photographers

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2011-02-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not even sure why I'm posting these images. They are from a historical house in NSW, Australia, and for some reason they intrigue me. Maybe it's because I tend to like things that aren't overly "done," in the sense that things are so decorated that they look twee, or overly matchy. I think good interiors, like good homes, tell the stories of the people who have lived in them. And when I look at this old house I can't help but wonder about the people who have lived it, including as the article indicates, Miss Aphrasia Maughan. Aphrasia Maughan, now there's a name.

images and article from Real Homes

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2011-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

My favorite line from one of my favorite movies, Lost In Translation: "and every girl goes through a photography phase, like horses, you know, pictures of your feet..."

Guilty as charged.

(Although, underneath those feet is a 300 foot plunge into the southern atlantic ocean at the Cape of Good Hope, which is pretty cool, I think.)

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2011-02-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

What is it about us humans that we are always looking to get what we can't have? When I was little I fantasized about having curly hair even though my blond hair basically hangs as straight as pieces of dried spaghetti. I've made my peace with my hair (and my looks in general) but I still find myself living as a "grass is greener" person.

Lately that has come in the form of scouring blogs from the southern hemisphere. Where it is summer. And hot. And life seems like the vacation that we northern hemisphere people would take drastic measures to be on. Of course I'm sure that life down South is just as hectic as anywhere, but still the images of blue skies, oceans and bare skin have me swooning.

Here are my current favorites. From Australia: Rummey Bears, Little Pinwheel, Pia Jane Bijkerk. From South Africa: Size Too Small and Miss Moss.

Photos: top - Yosigo; bottom - Alice Bernarndo

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2011-02-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up and I felt good. Good for the first time since the holidays. I think there is something about January that, well, doesn't bring out the best in me. The weather here in San Francisco has been truly glorious for the past few weeks, and I today my mood seems to be finally matching the endless blue skies. So here's to that!

What are you up to this weekend? I'm having a very "California in February" weekend. Tonight we are making fish tacos and I'm going to be reading Persuasion, by Jane Austen, for school. Tomorrow I'd like to take a do some laps in the outdoor swimming pool where I swim, and on Sunday I'm going to watch a friend run her first half marathon! (There will be some football viewing, too.)

Hope whatever you are up to that it brings a smile to your face. xo

Photograph by Yosigo, via the English Muse.

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2011-01-31T12:43:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago my husband went on a ski trip in the remote mountains of British Columbia. He and a group of guys stayed in two cabins that can only be reached by helicopter! Some of their pictures take my breath away.

Photos by Harris Jordan, one of the skiers.

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2011-01-26T10:18:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, my oh so chic sister was wearing these Penelope Chilvers clogs. Comfort plus shearling on the inside? Yes, please.

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2011-01-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

I want to go to here. Turpan, China, and the Silk Road as seen through the lens of Jacky Douchet.

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2011-01-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

A big thank you to Liz, from Say Yes to Hoboken!, for featuring By Its Own Design on her list of up and coming blogs from the Alt Summit! Such lovely company to be in.

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2011-01-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

My other half has been away for over a week, ski touring from a remote cabin in British Columbia. I've been taking advantage of a quiet house to try and write as much as possible, and am sure ready for a little break. Off to the pictures to catch either The Fighter or Black Swan. Such different options, I know. Inspired by the words of Roald Dahl, have a magical weekend. Whether it be snowy or sunny!

Can't remember where I found this image. Let me know if you know its attribution.

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2011-01-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

What I'm thinking about and working on today. A little glimpse of the novel I'm writing about various generations of a family (some of them peach farmers) that live in the high desert of Western Colorado.

Harlan grew up studying both at the little school down the hill and along the shaded rows of the orchards. During the summers he worked underneath the trees, picking and packing alongside everyone they knew. His long body would be covered up in overalls and his tawny hair tucked underneath his broad cowboy hat as he tried to shield himself from the deadly desert sun.

Redhavens were the first ones to ripen, as early as mid-July. They were plump, like rosy cheeks, and had vermillion rings around their pits. Redglobes were the giants of the group—to an untrained eye they resembled apples, until you wrapped your palm around their velvety skin. Suncrests were like little precious stones that grew on trees with their yellow undercoat and brushing of red fuzz. Cresthavens came in towards September, right when the light would start to turn, and it often seemed to Harlan that their amber flesh was a harbinger of autumn’s fading golden days.

photographs by J. Nordberg

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2011-01-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Ahh, winter. I am one of those people whose mood goes kaput when the sun circles low in the winter sky. Little threads of doubt creep into my head. They usually revolve around the same theme: “your work/writing is total rubbish—why are you even attempting this?” I try very hard to keep these thoughts away, and am forever coming up with new solutions. Exercise! No matter what, fresh air makes you feel better. Embrace the coziness! Light candles all around your house and stay warm, then you won’t feel depressed. Wake up early with the light and go to bed with the dark, and you’ll feel energized!

The thing is, that none of these things have ever really worked for me. The fact is that when the sun goes away, my usual optimistic “I can handle it with a smile on my face” attitude sort of disappears.

I remember once when talking to a friend about struggle, she told me that for years and years, she would bang her head against whatever obstacle was in her way, and no matter how heavy it was, she’d try to push it away. Only it inevitably turned out to be way to heavy for her to do anything about it. Then one day, doing something completely mundane, she realized that she could just walk around the boulder, rather than walk into it.

Walk around it. Hmm. What exactly does that mean? I’ve thought about it for a while now, and I think what it means for me is surrendering. That there are times in life—seasons in the year, where you aren’t always in control over how you feel. And that this is OK. Here’s the real thing: not only is it OK, it’s totally natural.

What would happen if I gave in to these feelings of somberness and soberness? What would happen if I let myself sleep in rather than waking up and going for a run? What would happen if I allowed myself to be quiet and still. What would happen if I acknowledged that I feel less “good” than other times when I’m energized and feel great and life is good? After all, what’s the worst that could happen? I’d be what I already am: a body in sleep mode, waiting for spring.

photos credits. top: Katie de Bruycker, middle: MariaJC, bottom: Lara Alegre.

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2010-12-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

On happier note, some dreamy images of Europe under snow over at Pia's blog. Glad that there are some who are enjoying the wintry wonderland. (Still soliciting good thoughts for my sister's situation!)

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2010-12-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

So as many of you out there may know, Europe is under snow. Which means that my sister and her family have been stuck since the weekend. They've had two flights canceled already, and the third flight, later in the week, is looking uncertain. With the thousands of miles between California and England, I only get to see them twice a year. I really hope that they will make it time for Christmas. I just don't know what we'd do without them! Please send all the positive energy you can to the airports in Europe, and to the hundreds of families who are stranded over the Holidays. photo by mrs. french.

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2010-12-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite book that I've made thus far. It was a really personal subject matter -- about a rough time in life that I went through a few years back, that involved my husband having massive jaw reconstructive surgery.

Because the words are so intense, I wanted the book to feel really delicate, soft and textural. I also came up with the metaphor of sewing for the way the doctors re-assembled Alex's face. I used soft rice paper, that I then printed manipulated images of his facial x-rays on. I loved the ghost like quality of the x-rays! And then I literally sewed on the paper. It was so much fun, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out. Best of all, this one is actually easily reproducible, so I can make more!

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2010-12-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

This little baby blue has a rounded spine. And peep holes where you can see the sewing and linen tape. I really love the finished effect of this. So simple, but elegant.

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2010-12-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

This book was supposed to have a kind of google zoom effect. I used pochoir and guache to illustrate the idea of a local food movement in my own backyard. I'm thinking about making a poster of these images, all together on one big sheet. Maybe even selling it?

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2010-12-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

So this is the long stitch binding, which basically means that you sew the book sections (pieces of folded paper nestled in fours or fives) into the case. And by sew, I mean literally take a needle and thread and sew! Before making books, I had no idea that people still did that. This book is 12 sections -- so 48 pages. And as you can see, I kind of wanted to have fun with the inside, so I used some paper that I made last spring.

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2010-12-13T17:07:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, the school I go to has an MFA program in Book Arts. Even though I'm getting my MFA in writing, I'm still allowed to take these fabulous Book Arts classes, which I have to say is probably the biggest perk to my program.

This semester in my bookbinding class, we focused on traditional structures, as opposed to the contemporary structures that I made last year. This is a coptic binding, which is one of the oldest ways to bind books in the world! It originates from Egypt, and there are many variations of it. This is probably the simplest one, but if you look closely, you can see the braids in the binding.

I also made a clamshell box to house the book, mostly just for fun because I love making boxes. It's all about the precision, and my closet perfectionist just adores being let out of the house from time to time.

Next Up: Long Stitch Binding

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2010-12-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Guess what I was doing today? Breaking down wooden type. On that note, next week I'll be posting some of the book projects that I made this fall. Have a great weekend, everyone!

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2010-12-10T15:32:00.000-08:00

pretty.

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2010-12-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

Last night I had a good time setting up my Christmas Wish List and sent it around to my family. It's always fun to troll through the things that have caught my eye through the year, and to point people in the right direction. Heath Ceramics teapot, Donna Wilson's Nos Da pillow, Rifle stationary, a subscription to the Australian magazine Inside Out, and Lauren Manoogian's gorgeous necklace are amongst this year's faves.

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2010-12-07T07:35:00.000-08:00

Sadly, when you are in graduate school, enjoying the winter holidays usually gets chucked out because there's about a million and one loose ends to finish up before the semester is over. This year is much better for me than past years, but still I'm racing to finish. In the meantime, we did manage to get a mini tree up (with lights), plus a poinsetta, wreath, and paperwhites. I'm listening to my favorite holiday music, and I'm sticking to my vow to try and decorate the inside Scandi-style, using lots of greens and bright candles to soak up the darkness that has fallen across the northern hemisphere.

I'm the kind of body that really gets affected by the darkness these days. What do you guys do to brighten your days as the solstice approaches? top: Maria JC; middle: (my fav) Abby Powell; bottom: Sarah Ryhanen.

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2010-11-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

Well, well, friends. Last week I had an epic battle with salmonella poising. Yes, it's as bad is it sounds, and yes, I will spare you the details. My and my little stomach are on the road to recovery, however, and we plan to consume (a very little) t-giving feast tomorrow! Hope that you are all celebrating in a warm kitchen with people you love.

It's just me and A this year, and while it would be easy to fall into a little we-are-alone-on-the-holidays-blues, I have stop myself and ask how could I possibly? I feel so grateful to have my health, to have an amazing family who loves me, to have awesome smiley friends who I will get to laugh with very soon, to have a shelter that I call home, and to have glorious food that usually doesn't make me sick, and to have a new Harry Potter movie that I'm seeing in 3.2 hours.

Happy Thanks!

photos by Akida

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2010-11-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Still having an awesome visit with my Mamma, but just had to jump in to say that this lady is seriously speaking my language. From Jeana Sohn's closet visit with Pietsie Campbell. (P.S. how cute is this picture of Jeana? We're talking serious girl crush, here.)

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2010-11-11T10:21:00.000-08:00

I'm signing off early for the weekend. My Mom is coming to town! We are going to eat oysters and hike, and eat and shop. I can't wait. Have a good one, everyone! xx photo by emilie79*

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2010-11-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

This pretty much sums up how I've been dressing these days. How cute is this girl? via the Sartorialist.

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2010-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Wish List Wednesdays. From top to bottom: Rachel Comey dress and United Bamboo sunglasses, both from Totokaelo; handmade Blue Paint Chip quilt from Kimem (via Oh Happy Day!); lovely Fleet Foxes video, directed by Sean Pecknold.

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2010-11-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Now that it's getting darker outside, it's time for me to fully address the fact that winter is coming. I don't mind the cold so much, but the lack of light sends my seratonin packing to warmer climes. This year is no exception, and I think due to stress I'm already feeling a bit of that I want to hibernate thing.

It's hard for me to slow down without feeling a bit blue, but it seems to me that winter forces that upon you. So what if I can't run outside everyday? So what if I want to eat heavier, richer foods, and sleep more? That's natural! I usually spend so much time combatting winter that this year I realized, what would happen if I just gave it to it? While it can be hard to spend the umpteenth weekend indoors due to wintery rain (West Coasters: I'm talking to you!), I'm trying to figure out ways to make the indoors as cozy and comfy as possible.

The Scandis use lots of candles and natural light, even when it's dark, and I'm planning on following suit. And shimmery decorations also help. As does greenery. Bring the plants inside! Top photo source coco+kelley, bottom right and left: Toast Catalogue.

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2010-11-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

Hello, Happy People. Brief interjection into this week to tell you that things are busy, busy, busy. Should be back to regularly scheduled programming next week. Bisous! photo by one of my favs, Lieke Romeijn.

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2010-10-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

How awesome does this apartment look? I love their store, and I love this room even more. I don't like it when things are overly styled, so this is my kind of decor. Cozy and comfortable, family friendly, but still beautiful. Signing off for the weekend and looking forward to doing a whole lot of nothing. The days are getting colder, darker, and rainier, and my body is accordingly transitioning into homebody mode. Cannot wait to cook, drink some red wine, watch films, and take a hot bath. I've been running at full steam recently, and still need to pace myself through November. So this weekend is all about the R&R! Happy halloween everyone and have a lovely lovely weekend. Photo by Ditte Isager.

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2010-10-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

A very happy birthday to one of my favorite little people. Happy 3rd Birthday, Robbie! Love, h.

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2010-10-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

wish list wednesdays. top: shell collection by India Rose (via hanpicked); middle: pendleton Chipara blanket, backwards and forwards; bottom: shearling coat from Calypso, Skirt by Shabd.

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2010-10-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

The river starts slowly, up in the lonely country, up above tree line, where it is little more than a trickle. It looks like nothing at first; like a diffident, seasonal creek. As the snow melts, the water runs downwards, curling, bending, sometimes pausing—yet never actually still. It wanders first across the high alpine meadows and then through the brown stretches of plains. It is on its own unpredictable path, gathering itself all the while, propelling itself downwards. As other tributaries make their way over the stream becomes a small river, and together the water advances through the places that offer themselves up with the least resistance. It has cut through layers of rock while gathering sediment and gaining strength in its momentum. By the time it sweeps into the valley, gurgling past the curved walls of De Beque canyon, it is a steady, surging force. The river, by then, has found its purpose, and it rushes, headlong, on its unerring course.

What I'm thinking/working on/writing about today.

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2010-10-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Photographic images that I'm using in my new book. Who wants to guess what they are?

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2010-10-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

dreamy photographs of Portugal by Anabela Carneiro, taken as part of the cool photo project, 1010, where 10 photographers from around the world took 10 photos on 10/10/10. (seen at A Cup of Jo)

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2010-10-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Wish List Wednesday. The "you can take the girl outta New York but you can't take the New York outta the girl" edition. Clockwise: coat from Loeffler Randall (via Ill Seen, Ill Said); gorgeous corsage from BanDo; shoes from Sigerson Morrison; knot bag from M0581.

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2010-10-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

Richard Avedon and Sophia Loren

"Photography is, first of all, a way of seeing. It is not seeing itself." Susan Sontag, On Photography

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2010-10-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

love this little film by jeana sohn!

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2010-10-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

(a short) wish list wednesday. top: scarves from
scarfshop (via unruly things). bottom: alexandra cassaniti bag.

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2010-10-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

Street music + Paris balcony + summer = amazingness. Caught some street music on tape when I was in Paris last summer. (Sorry for the less than stellar video quality! It was the first thing that I recorded on my flip camera.)

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2010-10-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was up in Sonoma for a bachelorette weekend. This was the kind of bachelorette thing that I dig: wine tasting, bike rides through vineyards, campfires, cooking, and lots and lots of laughter. There wasn't a boa in sight...

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2010-10-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

ditte isager

Have you guys heard about Noma? It's a Copenhagen kitchen considered by many to be the best restaurant in the world. This new book, with photographs by Ditte Isager, looks amazing.

A new poem about Sylvia Plath's death by Ted Hughes was discovered in London. Fascinating and heartbreaking.

I'm digging this new to me label: Chianti and Parker -- via Olivet.

This "Why We Travel" photo contest has me mulling over the possibilities of my next trip. Currently at the top of my list? Mozambique.

A fascinating listen on the elusiveness of memory, from the boys at Radiolab.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

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2010-10-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

me likey. that's all. via sweet space.

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2010-10-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

wish list wednesdays. from top to bottom: hasbeens clogs, tabio checked tights, madewell blouse, ak vintage "indian paintbrush" necklace.

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2010-10-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

When I find something I like, whether it be ice cream (Bi-Rite chocolate) or jeans (J Brand), I will faithfully stay true to the brand. Last semester I found this notebook, made by the Spanish company MiquelRius, I knew that I had found the perfect pad of paper. Perfectly ruled lines (small by not teeny) and a nice study but flexible cover, color coded sections, recycled material. I'm telling you, they are amazing. So amazing that I have been waiting for five weeks for my local art/paper store to restock them!

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2010-10-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

This just goes to show you that what your Mom used to tell you when you were a kid was true. The best accessory is a great smile. (Ok. That hat is pretty awesome too.) photo by the sartorialist

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2010-10-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

I've been stressed lately. Very stressed. About work, about my own ambition and subsequent failure, about money, about getting older, you name it. The kind of work I do requires a lot of inward examination, which can sometimes lead to an unhealthy amount of internalization of stress. I do yoga, I exercise, I try to let it out when I can. But sometimes I feel like it's a losing battle.

Remember that old saying that we were all taught as children when we were learning how to cross a street? "Stop, look, listen." Well I'm stealing that and going to use if for myself. When I feel like I'm taking that turn up ahead a little to fast, veering out of control, I'm going to try to remember to stop, look, listen, and finally, smile. It's kind of about cultivating awareness, stealing little moments away from whatever it is that's going on in your day, to remind yourself that all this, well, this is good. photos: jose villa

Wish List Wednesdays.

2010-09-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, I never intended this blog to be about looking for external happiness in the form of clothes, or houses, or objects. If awareness is the first step towards enlightenment, or whatever you want to call it, then let's be frank about things, shall we? I (a mere mortal, and a girl, after all) do still want, well, things.

And while I don't really like shopping as an activity (translation: I hate trying things on), I love love love online window shopping. It's fun. There are no annoying or pushy sales people who hang around you, there are no god awful lighting mirror situations that make you want to run a marathon by next week, there is no pressure to buy. And now more than ever, there seems to be such cool stuff online -- particularly independent artists and designers.

All of this is a long way of saying that on Wednesdays I'll be posting a regular wish list. Thus the title, "Wish List Wednesdays". My blog has never really had a weekly format of any kind, which I like, but a little structure never hurt nobody, right?

Emerson Made Old-Schools (and in the spirit of full disclosure, the butt that goes with them. Hey, this is a wish list, right?)

Lauren Manoogian necklace and bracelet

Rachel Comey Boots

Camper Boots that look like Rachel Comey boots but are less $$$

Kate Spade Faux Fur jacket

our garden

2010-09-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite print for the book I'm working on. (Finishing up the book today, one way or the other.) I really like the way that this page turned out. I'm thinking of making an extra print of this, framing it and hanging it over my kitchen sink.

UPDATE: for the kitchen sink.

le temps fait beau.

2010-09-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

photo: anais wade

As my hectic week of work winds down (until I start working again this weekend), I just want to take a moment to acknowledge everything that I have in my life. An amazing family, a beautiful home. Ridiculously smart and beautiful friends. A loving partner. So thank you, whoever you are out there! I am most grateful.

Have a lovely, relaxing, inspiring weekend, friends. xo Honora

some photos from South Africa ... (finally)

2010-09-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Never Let Me Go.

2010-09-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

I really like just about everything about the possibility of this film: based on a book by Kazuo Ishiguro (who wrote Remains of the Day), directed by Mark Romanek (veteran music video filmmaker), Keira Knightly, Carey Mulligan, and Andrew Garfield. I only wish I had read the book first.

this is what my house looks like:

2010-09-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Working a new book. It involves making a huge mess and lots of (insanely) tedious cutting, of thick mylar no less. But getting to use hot pink artist tape makes it all worth it.

Fay Andrada

2010-09-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

earrings (and other jewelry) by Fay Andrada.

have a sparkly weekend!

2010-09-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

photos taken by me

Hope you can get outside and enjoy this beautiful change in seasons, wherever you are. I am planning to do a little play (yay!) and a little work (boo!). Also, here are two things that I read or listened to this week that are worth sharing:

-an interview from Paper Magazine with Sally Singer (former editor at Vogue and new editor-in-chief of T Magazine)

-a truly incredible Radiolab show "Words" (the writer in me was beyond fascinated) which includes a segment about a woman who lost language after a stroke, and in the process found a kind of inner peace.

sunshine.

2010-09-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

Things that are making me happy today: sunshine streams in through the windows and a home that is filled with light.

Miranda Brooks

2010-09-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post a lot about weddings, but when I saw this dress (Oscar de la Renta, based on a dress from Marie Antoinette), my jaw dropped. The landscape designer Miranda Brooks's wedding in August Vogue.

World War II Posters

2010-09-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

Some things that I stumbled upon in doing research for my novel: posters from World War II Britain. My manuscript takes place in 1940 London, and these images of wartime posters are really helping me set the mood. Found at the Imperial War Museum's online shop. Did you know that the famous "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was never actually used during the war? It was discovered later and has only recently risen to its current cult status.

Paris Limestone

2010-09-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

"There is nothing like the Paris sun against the biscuit toned French limestone of a Sixteenth or Eighteenth Century building. It is perfect."
Andre Leon Talley

I couldn't agree more! Even when the sun is behind clouds, it's still perfect. Photos of mine taken in June.

a little borges for your weekend.

2010-09-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

*still looking for photo credit

"Then I reflected that everything happens to a man precisely, precisely now." Jorge Luis Borges

2010-08-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

Love these illustrations from this Brooklyn home. That oyster drawing? Genius. Makes me wish I could draw, which I can't. But I really like the idea of filling your space with things that you've created, drawings, sayings, photographs. From Design*Sponge, photos by Lesley Unruh.

stretching.

2010-08-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

by fertie

I think I just unlocked about 2.5 years of stress doing hip openers. Thank god for yoga.

2010-08-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

"I must go. The fog is rising." Emily Dickinson

on fear.

2010-08-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

me, freefalling
by my cousin Molly

My little brother, Jake, is afraid of heights. Like, really afraid. When Alex and I lived in Colorado, we climbed Gothic Mountain with him. Three quarters of the way to the top Jake was nervously sweating, his face had gone white, and then he starting crawling on all fours because he couldn’t bear looking down. In all my time living in the mountains, I had never seen anyone react like that to heights.

Last week, when my whole family was at my parents’ home for our annual summer vacation, Jake decided that he was going to voluntarily jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet. He had been thinking about it all summer. Now who was with him? Alex was a yes. So was my cousin Brendan. My brother-in-law, Steve, was interested, but his kids were having a “need their daddy” kind of day. They needed a fourth. Three faces filled with a particular mixture of thrill and fear turned to look at me. Honora?

I spent the next few hours thinking. About myself, about fear. About how I already know from my years in the backcountry that I am not an adrenaline junkie. I thought and thought. About how I’m about to turn thirty and feel like I’m in an emotional rut. About how life doesn’t turn out how you think it will. About how lately I’ve felt like I’ve stopped being the protagonist in the novel that is my own life. About how typically writerish of me it was to think that jumping out of a plane could be a spiritual experience. Who was I trying to be, anyway?

And then a funny thing happened. Just as I was about to tell the guys no, sorry, I’m not coming with you, my mouth opened and it said yes.

I would be lying if I said that jumping into terminal velocity wasn’t f*&king terrifying. It’s nearly impossible to describe the sensation of going from 0 to 120 miles per hour in seconds. There is so much less gravity at 14,000 feet, the air is cold and thin, and I barely could tell which was up and which was down. All I knew was that I had just voluntarily launched myself out of a moving aircraft and now I felt like I was going to die. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t open my eyes, and my stomach felt like it had been left on the plane.

And then I did what I always try to do when I’m scared or in pain: I remembered to try and breathe. A big, juicy, freezing gulp of thin air. I remembered the position I was supposed to put my legs and arms in, remembered that I was strapped to my nice Brazilian instructor, and I looked down. There was my house! There was my backyard and my Dad’s boat and our little beach. There was my favorite running route. There was the pond where I learned how to swim. There was the lighthouse, there was Monomoy, there was the new ocean cut. There was the airport, there was Alex below me landing to safety, there was my family, hands waving and cheering! There was my Mom, nervous and frightened and happy to see her children doing such amazing things. There was everyone and every thing that I loved.

Since that day I’ve had moments where I haven’t felt so hot. I’ve closed my eyes and remembered that feeling of fear -- the air rushing by me, my arms spread wide, my body falling openly, freely, looking down at the world below and just how magnificent it all really is.

2010-08-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

"Noticing a single shortcoming in ourselves is far more useful than seeing a thousand in someone else. When it is our own: we can correct it."

Dalai Lama

on making lemonade.

2010-08-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

by Lieke Romeijn

How to begin?

This summer has dealt me some lemons in the guise of personal challenges. To say that I never saw these things coming would be quite the understatement. And I’m usually pretty darn good at seeing things from miles away. I’ve always sort of sensed that in the blog world we all present a projection of ourselves, and because I haven’t necessarily felt like my best self, I’ve been silent for a while. No one wants to be inundated with someone else’s garbage. No one wants to hear about how much you’ve cried, or listen to a constant stream of negativity.

With the silence came a contemplation about what to do with this space. While one of the things that I love most about reading blogs is getting a chance to look at beautiful and inspiring things for a little while each day, I’ve never felt totally comfortable with how much my own lens seems to be about things that I Want. I Want that dress. I Want this house. I Want to look/act/dress/be like this person, then my life would really be it.

In the past few months though, I’ve come to see that finding beauty in each an every day needs to be something internal, not external; not found elsewhere, but found right here. I’m not exactly sure what this will look like quite yet - I'm thinking a little more art based. More contemplative. More writing. More honesty.

But if you want to come along, you know where to find me.

high summer in Wiltshire

2010-08-03T07:46:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine just emailed me this picture. It's of my niece and nephew in their family's garden in Wiltshire. I adore everything about it; it seems very Selby-esque. Wish I had been there! Doesn't my sister's garden look amazing?

life in a suitcase

2010-07-21T13:01:00.001-07:00

You guys, I have never ever been so busy/exhausted/exhilarated from my travels this summer. So far I've been to one graduation, two weddings, three continents, four world cup soccer games, and have been on 10 planes. That's right, I said 10. One of those trips took 30 hours. And it's not even over yet. Next week the travel recommences and I get on flight number 11, en route to wedding number 3.

In the meantime, I am working on posting some pictures of my trip to South Africa, in my nonexistent free time. It's hard for me to even describe how incredible and inspiring SA was, not to mention the World Cup. It was the most difficult traveling I've ever done, but sometimes the things that are hardest are the things you feel the most grateful for. I will try to post more soon...

top: an image from Spain vs. Honduras, middle: atop Table Mountain in Cape Town, bottom: overlooking the 200 foot cliffs of the Cape of Good Hope.

on holiday.

2010-06-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

photo

And we're off. The excitement is still pulsing through my veins. Have a wonderful few weeks, everyone! I'll be back on July 1st.

shadow puppets.

2010-06-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

such great new lovelies from John Derian. I saw them in person a couple of weeks ago in Sonoma.

the beautiful game.

2010-06-09T18:45:00.004-07:00

a warning: this post may just may induce a mad rage of jealousy. press play.

friends. oh friends! I am about to embark on one of the most exciting trips of my life, a trip that was four years in the making. my husband and I are going to the world cup! in south africa! we've got tickets to four matches, including brazil versus the ivory coast, which some say could be one of the best matches in the tournament. if that weren't awesome enough, I'm also spending 6 days en route to South Africa in Paris. with my husband.

I told you, I did. I warned you. mad rage of jealousy.

(commercials for the world cup are famous for being incredibly creative and well made. the one above is for nike, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the director of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel.)

new book.

2010-06-07T18:15:00.002-07:00

a little glimpse of a short book I'm working on. as you can see it's geared towards a certain age group! specifically, two one year olds that are very dear to my heart.

york street studios.

2010-06-03T11:06:00.004-07:00

continuing on with my own ode to New England: on the plane flying from SF to Boston last week I fell in love with this house from the pages Elle Decor. The house is in rural Connecticut, near where my brother and sister went to high school. The home's owners are the couple behind the design firm York Street Studios, and their house is pretty much perfection. Richly layered, but simply, relaxed and comfortable! I like how it doesn't take itself too seriously. Case in point, the sofas in the sunroom are even from Ikea.

maine + massachusetts.

2010-06-01T19:42:00.002-07:00

Friends, I have been on a mini vacay in Maine and at my family's home in Massachusetts. I have been experiencing some serious heart pangs at being back "home". Old white New England farmhouses, summer sun, the Atlantic ocean, listening to the pine trees in the wind, driving down back country roads with the windows rolled down, cool air at night without street lamps. It's perfection.

yellow.

2010-06-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

top, bottom.

books, and where they live.

2010-05-25T09:31:00.004-07:00

images: carrier & co, dress design decor, design*sponge

I was lucky enough to grow up in one of those houses where there are books in every corner of every room. Books piled so high, in some instances, that the old ones were relegated to boxes in the attic. Everyone in my family reads, and reads a lot. Whether it is making them, writing them, or reading them, it's become clear in the past few years that books are amongst my most prized possessions. Which brings me to my point: I need ~~new~~ more bookcases.

favorites.

2010-05-17T14:59:00.004-07:00

from one of my all-time favorite stores, ABC Carpet and Home.

my perfect dress.

2010-05-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

this little sonia rykiel number is perfection. sadly, it is like $800 too expensive. but a girl can dream.

my book, "the daydream."

2010-05-11T19:54:00.002-07:00

it's a carousel book, made out of three layers of paper that get sown together with thread, on the front edges. I wanted it to have a real handmade feel, since it is a personal story. the images are all taken by me, or by someone in my family. the text depicts a dream I used to have about my father building a flying car. we'd float across the air and ocean, and be able to travel anywhere. click on larger versions of the photographs if you want to read it. it was a lot of work, as always, but worth it in the end!

happy feet.

2010-05-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

with my back the way it is currently, I do not expect to be wearing heels anytime soon. but that can't stop me from daydreaming about these sexy, sexy shoes from chie mihara! they all feel very vintage to me. happy feet, indeed. she also does make flats, so there's always that.

soldiering on.

2010-05-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

still dealing with a sore back, which is at this point starting to make me awfully cranky. but the book that I'm working on must be finished by wednesday, so I'm soldiering on. although a creaky spine makes leaning over a table, cutting paper sorta of difficult. here's another look at some of the content - above is the opening page spread (without text yet!).

ouch

2010-05-08T17:07:00.008-07:00

On top of having a rough weekend body-wise, I somehow managed to throw out my back yesterday. This has never happened to me before, and I didn't expect it to happen at my still young(ish) age! Not sure what this all means, but it's pretty clear that for this weekend, it means lying down on the wood floor. And taking lots of hot baths. Hope you guys are faring better than I! xo. {image source}

my favorite specs

2010-05-05T11:41:00.005-07:00

These vintage sunglasses once belonged to my Mom, and I have had them for years. They, simply put, my favorite specs ever. Over the years they have picked up more than a few scratches. I have always vowed that if I ever, ever found anything that looked remotely like them, I would have to check them out. And then I saw these:

Some Things...

2010-05-05T11:02:00.006-07:00

some things that I am loving right this very second:

{image - d*s}

parquet. for the obvious reasons that it makes everything, well perfect.

this plate made exclusively for anthropologie by artist Nathalie Lété.

Narumi's hauntingly beautiful photographs of cherry blossoms! {via pia jane bijkerk} and the fact that spring is really,truly here!

Gallant & Jones

2010-05-04T17:32:00.003-07:00

Lovely, lovely outdoor chairs from Canadian company Gallant & Jones. With every purchase, they donate $5.00 to Love Trees. Plus isn't their website just adorable?

perfect haircut

2010-05-03T10:44:00.003-07:00

As I said last week, I've been trying to grow out my hair for sometime now. And this is a photo from Garance Dore that I've been holding onto. Almost there, but need to trim my bangs! And get some summer sun on my towheaded mop.

Update:

Another great cut today on Garnace Dore! A little funkier than the one above, but I really love this one, too. Thanks to my sister for pointing it out.

the world at your fingertips

2010-05-03T09:43:00.005-07:00

via the blog tulips & flight suits

I have got to get my hands on one of these rad hand-drawn world maps. (Even if they are sort of crazily expensive.) In case it hasn't been made patently clear by now, I am obsessed with travel. I guess that's what happens when a little girl loses her first tooth on a plane to Bali--that little girl grows up to become me.

Sunny Day Blues

2010-04-30T09:39:00.004-07:00

jena ardell

It's a gorgeous day here, friends, but I can't help feeling a little blue. There are a whole host of reasons why, but well, in the words of Robert Plant in one of my favorite songs, "Upon us all a little rain must fall." So I'm going to buck up, get some work done, and then cook and bake to my heart's content. Here's to a "rainy" day.

Calypso

2010-04-28T12:40:00.003-07:00

Calypso, oh how you get me every single time. My only question is when will you open a store in San Francisco? (Oh and these picture totally have me resolved to continue growing out my hair.)

In the next few weeks...

2010-04-26T20:39:00.002-07:00

I'll be working on a new book project about two things I do constantly: daydreaming and wanderlust. It's going to be cool! Here's a sneak peak.

New Bike Company

2010-04-26T09:33:00.002-07:00

Public Bikes, from San Francisco.

Notes on Milk

2010-04-23T10:52:00.005-07:00

image

Last night I caught a beautiful short film, Notes on Milk. It's a kind of experimental documentary on the diary industry. It's seriously gorgeous, and is only 20 minutes long. You can watch it here.